Trump weighs Hegseth's fate after GOP midterm defeat

President Donald Trump has asked close advisers and phone contacts whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should continue in his role, according to multiple sources familiar with the discussions. The inquiries followed the Republican Party's substantial losses in Tuesday night's midterm elections.

The White House is evaluating the impact of military operations in Iran on voter sentiment. Several aides expect that criticism of the campaign will focus on Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both officers provided guidance on the war effort.

Vice President JD Vance attributed the defeat directly to the conflict. In a post on X Wednesday morning, Vance stated, "The reason we lost is the war." Although the president has not finalized a decision to replace Hegseth, sources indicate that a swap is under consideration.

Democrats, who hold strong majorities in both chambers of Congress, had been pushing for Hegseth's impeachment before the election. That effort may gain momentum in the coming weeks. One source said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being considered as a potential successor. DeSantis could complete Senate confirmation during the lame-duck session and assume the post when his governor's term ends Jan. 5.

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to the reports in a written statement. Kelly said Trump has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth. She also praised the military operations in Iran and Venezuela, noting Hegseth's work to reverse what she called the Biden Pentagon's focus on DEI and woke ideology.