Pete Hegseth’s future as defence secretary has become a central question for the Trump administration after Republicans lost control of Congress in the midterm elections.
Republican insiders blamed the Iran war that Hegseth advocated and oversees for the defeat. Trump and Vice President JD Vance said voters had been angered by the effect of the 8-month-long conflict on gas and diesel prices.
Republicans in Washington were assessing the scale of their defeat on Thursday, two days after Democrats took Congress by large margins. Republicans lost seven Senate seats on Tuesday, with two additional losses possible, and have hemorrhaged at least 29 seats in the House.
Vance put the blame bluntly in a post on X: “The reason we lost is the war. If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so.”
As the administration looked for someone to hold responsible, Trump began discussing with advisers whether Hegseth should be replaced.
Yet on Wednesday, Trump told reporters that Hegseth was “doing a very good job” and said he did not plan to fire him. He also said, “The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it.”
Trump said Hegseth “would be very popular” if he sought appointment to the Senate. Hegseth ruled out leaving his post voluntarily for a Senate appointment.
The president had used similarly approving language about former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem before dismissing them this year.
A White House source said: “Knives are definitely out for him among senior West Wing staff.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is among those under consideration to replace Hegseth. Under one potential arrangement, DeSantis could be confirmed by the Senate during the lame-duck period and take the role after his gubernatorial term ends January 5.
Tennessee Gov.-elect Martha Blackburn’s support could appoint Hegseth to her vacated Senate seat.
Hegseth is also facing a possible impeachment vote for waging the Iran conflict without congressional authorisation. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky told CNN he plans to trigger the vote, and multiple GOP sources said it was expected to pass.
CNN reported that House Republicans were expected to hold the vote in a matter of days as a direct repudiation of Hegseth. In September, Massie said he would force a House vote on impeaching Hegseth, after which House Speaker Mike Johnson sent Congress into recess until after the midterms.
Sean Parnell, the Pentagon spokesman, said the department would continue to pursue Trump’s agenda. He called the Democratic threats “sham witch hunts” and said Hegseth was “100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump's term in office.”
Some White House officials expect Navy Admiral Brad Cooper, the head of US Central Command, or Army General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to absorb part of the blame for the Republican defeat. People close to the administration have also raised the prospect of Trump dismissing Caine or Cooper instead of Hegseth.
Hegseth has been a forceful advocate in Washington for US military action against Iran. He has publicly rebuked lawmakers and journalists who questioned the war’s objectives, cost and lack of congressional authorisation.
He has also purged dozens of high-ranking military officers and denied promotions to others on grounds described as dubious.
In October 2025, a Signal group chat involving Hegseth and Vance about a military strike on Yemen accidentally included a journalist, prompting calls for Hegseth’s dismissal.
John Ullyot, who served in national defence roles in both Trump terms, said: “Hegseth has been a human wrecking ball swinging through one of our oldest and proudest institutions, and it will take years to undo the damage.”
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