Hegseth job in flux after GOP losses

President Donald Trump is weighing whether to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his cabinet position following the Republican Party's defeat in Tuesday's midterm elections. Multiple sources familiar with the matter say the president has been asking aides and advisors on the phone whether Hegseth should remain in the role.

The internal debate centers on who bears responsibility for the GOP losses. Some White House aides point to Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, and General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both men played major roles in guiding the Iran war, a conflict that Vice President JD Vance cited as the primary reason for the party's defeat in a Wednesday morning post on X.

Despite the speculation, sources indicate the president has not yet decided to replace Hegseth. The question of his future has gained urgency because Democrats, now holding strong majorities in both chambers of Congress, were already pushing for his impeachment before the election. That likelihood may increase with their expanded legislative power.

One source named Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a potential successor. The argument for DeSantis is that he could secure Senate confirmation during the lame-duck session and assume the post when his term as governor ends on January 5, 2027.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to the reports by stating that President Trump has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth. In a statement, she also praised military operations in Iran and Venezuela, crediting Hegseth with reversing the previous administration's focus on DEI and woke ideology at the Pentagon.