Trump backs Hegseth after midterm losses, but ouster speculation grows
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday publicly backed Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, dismissing questions about his possible removal even as the administration faces mounting pressure over the unpopular war with Iran and the Republican Party's crushing defeat in the midterm elections.
Asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth following Tuesday's results, Trump told reporters: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."
The endorsement came a day after Democrats secured control of both chambers of Congress, with voter dissatisfaction over the Iran conflict emerging as a major factor behind the Republican Party's losses. However, people familiar with the discussions said Hegseth's position could still be under threat as the administration assesses the electoral fallout.
One Trump adviser suggested the Defence Secretary could become a casualty of the political setback. Hegseth "could be on the chopping block" because of the war, the adviser said, adding: "Someone is going to get blamed for this and you know it's not going to be him (Trump)."
The White House directed Reuters to Trump's public remarks when asked about Hegseth's future. The Pentagon, meanwhile, said the Defence Secretary remained "100 percent committed" to leading the department until the end of Trump's term on January 20, 2029.
Hegseth has been among the strongest supporters of the US military campaign against Iran, with Trump himself previously acknowledging his role in backing the decision to launch the offensive.
On March 23, Trump praised his Defence Secretary, saying: "Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up, and you said, 'Let's do it, because you can't let them have a nuclear weapon.'"
However, Vice President JD Vance on Wednesday publicly questioned whether the conflict had been worth the cost, saying the war had contributed to Republicans losing control of Congress.
The political implications of Hegseth's position have drawn comparisons with the 2006 midterm elections. Then-President George W Bush dismissed Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the morning after Democrats made major gains and took control of Congress, amid widespread public opposition to the Iraq war.
Although Trump has publicly stood by Hegseth, disagreements between the Defence Secretary and lawmakers have increasingly complicated the administration's relationship with Congress.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis told CBS News on Tuesday night that Hegseth had "a reckoning" ahead of him. He also said the Defence Secretary's strained relationship with lawmakers was undermining efforts to secure congressional support for a proposed $1.5 trillion defence spending package.
"I think after the election, we need to determine whether or not he's the best person to bring those needs to Congress if he wants something done before the end of this Congress, which is only 60 days away," Tillis said as the election results emerged.DEMOCRATS PREPARE INVESTIGATIONS INTO PENTAGON CHIEF
Hegseth could also face intensified congressional scrutiny after Democrats take control of both chambers. Democratic lawmakers have promised investigations into his management of the Pentagon, including the conduct of the Iran war and his removal of several senior military officers, among them the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Other potential areas of investigation include his handling of US policy towards Ukraine and American military strikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters, which some Democrats have argued could constitute war crimes.
The Defence Secretary has also faced criticism from lawmakers over his handling of military dissent. Last year, he sought to prosecute Democratic Senator Mark Kelly after Kelly and five other lawmakers with military and intelligence backgrounds urged US troops to refuse illegal orders. Hegseth accused the lawmakers of sedition.
Representative Adam Smith, the Democrat expected to head the House Armed Services Committee next year, has promised extensive oversight of the Pentagon, including the Iran war and what he described as the erosion of the "apolitical foundation of the armed forces".
A person familiar with the matter said concerns over Hegseth's strained relationship with lawmakers had also featured in White House discussions about possible replacements. The administration would need someone capable of distancing the department from developments likely to come under Democratic scrutiny, the source said.
However, Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended Hegseth, saying he would continue implementing Trump's agenda and that the department had "followed the law".
"Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations where no wrongdoing exists," Parnell said.COULD HEGSETH MOVE TO THE SENATE?
One possibility being discussed for Hegseth is an appointment to the US Senate seat that will become vacant when Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn takes office as Tennessee's governor in January.
Blackburn, who won the gubernatorial election on Tuesday, has four years remaining in her Senate term. Hegseth, a Tennessee resident who voted in the state, could potentially be appointed to fill the vacancy without having to contest an election.
Asked whether he would support Hegseth taking over Blackburn's seat, Trump said: "Well, I think, I think he's doing a very good job, and I actually think he'd be very popular if he did that."
"But I haven't heard that at all," he added.
Trump has repeatedly praised Hegseth and given him considerable freedom to reshape the Pentagon. However, the two also experienced a public disagreement last month when Trump halted Hegseth's proposal to livestream the execution by firing squad of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan.
The plan had attracted objections from several Republicans, religious leaders and international observers. Pentagon officials had privately expressed relief after Trump intervened to stop the livestreaming.- EndsWith inputs from Reuters
