FT names eight Trump allies whose positions were shaken after the midterm elections

Eight figures under pressure

The Republicans' defeat in the midterm congressional elections has called into question the positions and political influence of eight members of Donald Trump's administration at once, including some previously considered practically untouchable. Financial Times published this list; Life.ru writes about this. The publication considers Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the most vulnerable — one of the main public faces of the military campaign against Iran, which caused discontent among Americans amid rising prices. According to FT, he may face not only dismissal but also an impeachment attempt by the Democrats, although Trump himself continues to support him for now.

The vice president, diplomacy, and the economic bloc

Uncertainty has also emerged around Vice President JD Vance, who was long considered Trump's main political heir: after the failed campaign and his critical statements about the war with Iran, the politician's position may weaken. This contrasts with an earlier signal — as Life.ru reported, at a closed Republican meeting in Dallas, Vance was greeted as a future US president, and attendees chanted the number “48,” hinting at a possible election as the 48th head of state. FT also predicts difficulties for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is seen as a possible rival to Vance in the 2028 elections: he will have to decide how closely to tie his prospects to Trump's course, while Rubio himself denies rumors of a possible resignation. In the economic bloc, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is associated with voters' discontent over inflation, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, criticized for tariff policy, have come under pressure; the publication also mentions Lutnick's alleged ties to Jeffrey Epstein, noting that there is no question of any proven involvement of the secretary in any crimes.

What is actually changing

Rounding out the list are immigration adviser Stephen Miller, whose harsh deportation policy provoked a negative reaction from part of the electorate, and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr., whose views on vaccination, according to FT, did not help the Republicans expand their electoral support. The Democrats' victory on November 3 prompted talk of a personnel reshuffle: they gained control of both chambers of Congress, which will begin work on January 3, 2027, allowing the opposition to intensify investigations and parliamentary oversight of the White House. At the same time, it is important to separate decisions made from forecasts: no dismissals have been announced so far, and the list itself is the publication's assessment, not the administration's staffing plan.