US President Donald Trump expressed his support for War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, one day after Democrats won control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in midterm elections that reflected voter anger over the war in Iran.
Asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, whom Trump has described as a strong supporter of the war, the president told reporters: “No, I think he is doing a very good job.”
Trump’s response contrasted with the decision by former President George W. Bush, who dismissed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld the morning after the 2006 midterm elections, when voter dissatisfaction with the Iraq war helped Democrats take control of Congress.
However, sources said Trump could still replace Hegseth as Republicans continue assessing their election losses.
One Trump adviser said Hegseth “may be on the verge of losing his job” because of the war.
“Someone will be held accountable for this, and obviously, that person will not be him (Trump),” the adviser added.
Trump had previously described Hegseth as one of the conflict’s leading supporters. On March 23, he said: “Pete, I think you were the first one to speak up and say, ‘Let’s do it, because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.’”
Vice President JD Vance publicly questioned the value of the war in Iran on Wednesday, saying it had cost Republicans control of Congress.
When asked for comment, the White House referred Reuters to Trump’s public remarks about Hegseth.
The Pentagon said Hegseth was “100% committed” to leading the department until the end of Trump’s term on January 20, 2029.
Source: Reuters
