The key facts

  • Trump told ABC that he «fully intends» to keep Hegseth as defense secretary, but admitted he receives dissatisfied calls about him
  • CNN reported that Hegseth could become the «scapegoat» for the Republicans' defeat in the midterm elections; the House of Representatives could vote on impeachment as early as next week
  • Vice President JD Vance linked the Republicans' loss to the war in Iran; according to media reports, the Democrats are gaining control of both chambers of Congress

Trump maintains his support for the defense secretary

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with ABC that Pete Hegseth will remain head of the Pentagon, despite complaints coming in about his work. «I fully intend to keep him», Trump said. He admitted that he receives calls from people unhappy with Hegseth, but added that he does not understand the reasons for such dissatisfaction. At the same time, Trump noted that it would be easier to confirm a new defense secretary before January, when control of the Senate passes to the Democrats: at that point they would have a majority large enough to reject any nominee. The same is reported by the Turkish news agency Anadolu with reference to the same interview.

Pressure after the midterm elections

The statement came amid reports of Hegseth's possible resignation. According to CNN, as cited by Gazeta.Ru, the defense secretary may become the «scapegoat» for the Republican Party's defeat in the congressional midterm elections, despite Trump's support: the House of Representatives could vote on impeachment as early as next week. In the view of Republicans, it was Hegseth who persuaded Trump to start the war in Iran without thinking through an exit strategy in advance and without developing a plan to deal with the political consequences. On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance also named the war in Iran as the reason for the Republicans' loss, while Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that Hegseth «will not back down and will not let politicians score partisan points» and intends to lead the department until the end of Trump's term.

What is known about the elections

According to preliminary results of the midterm elections the Democratic Party gains control of both chambers of Congress: the media announced that the Senate has passed to the Democrats and that they hold a majority in the House of Representatives. The opposition won in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, Kansas and South Carolina. Trump acknowledged the results of the vote but refused to consider the Republicans' defeat his own. Thus, Trump made the decision to keep Hegseth in office before the new Congress begins its work in January — meanwhile, according to CNN, the question of impeachment in the current House could be raised as early as next week. It was also previously reported that Trump's «Golden Dome» project could be scrapped after the Democrats' victory.