Trump backs Pete Hegseth after midterm losses as questions persist

President Donald Trump said on Nov. 4 that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was doing a “very good job” when reporters asked whether he was considering replacing him, according to Reuters. The public backing came a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections that Reuters said reflected voter anger over the Iran war.

Reuters reported that Trump has described Hegseth as a champion of the war. An unnamed Trump adviser told Reuters that Hegseth “could be on the chopping block” because of the conflict, adding that someone would be blamed for it. The adviser’s comment was an assessment of the political risk, not an announcement of a personnel decision.

Why Hegseth’s position is under scrutiny

Trump has offered a separate account of the Republican losses. In a phone interview with Fox News, he said voters supported his actions against Iran but were unwilling to bear the short-term financial consequences, particularly higher gasoline prices, Euronews reported. Trump called the fuel costs a short-term problem that could bring longer-term benefits and praised Democrats for their campaign efforts. The remarks place the dispute over Hegseth against an election in which the war’s political and household costs were both in focus.

What the administration says about Hegseth’s job

The White House referred Reuters to Trump’s public remarks when asked for comment. The Defense Department said Hegseth was “100 percent committed” to leading the Pentagon through the end of Trump’s term on Jan. 20, 2029. ABC News also reported Trump’s statement that Hegseth would remain in the job. Those public assurances accompany Reuters’ account of private concern among people close to the president; Reuters reported no decision to replace the defense secretary.