Midterm Fallout Puts Hegseth Under Pressure

The White House has rejected reports that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could leave their positions after Republican losses in the 2026 midterm elections. Rubio said he intends to remain in the Trump administration through the end of the president’s term, describing his work positively and dismissing speculation about his departure. The White House and State Department also called the reports “fake news.” Hegseth’s position appears less certain. US media reports say some Republicans want him replaced, particularly over his handling of the Iran war, which President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have blamed for the party’s losses. Those results gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress. Trump said he had received calls about Hegseth but intended to keep him, and later praised his performance, citing the war and the January arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro among his claimed accomplishments. Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a frequent Trump critic, says he will introduce an impeachment resolution against Hegseth early the following week. Massie urged Trump to replace the defence secretary before a Democratic-controlled Congress takes office in January, so a successor could still be confirmed by the Senate. Hegseth responded in a video, calling the impeachment effort a sham and defending his record. He cited increased military recruitment, a rebuilt defence industrial base and the removal of diversity initiatives as evidence that he had advanced Trump’s America First agenda. Separately, The Washington Post reported that Trump might consider replacing Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine or Centcom chief Admiral Brad Cooper, both of whom had roles advising on the war. Hegseth has also been rumoured to be interested in running for an open Tennessee Senate seat. The article describes competing reactions to the election fallout and the uncertainty surrounding possible changes in the administration, while noting that the White House has denied the reported departures.

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has vowed to resist congressional efforts to impeach him, defending his record in a video posted Thursday and describing the Iran war as a “courageous and historic” effort. His remarks came after Democrats won control of Congress in the midterm elections, which Vice-President JD Vance has said Republicans lost partly because of the war. Hegseth called the impeachment campaign a “sham” and argued that attempts to impeach President Donald Trump had failed to weaken him, implying the same would be true of efforts against Hegseth. Democrats have pledged investigations into Hegseth’s leadership of the Pentagon, including his firing of senior military officers and the dismissal of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie also plans to reintroduce impeachment articles. Hegseth’s critics have raised concerns about his conduct of the Iran war, strained relations with lawmakers, and the administration’s proposed $1.5-trillion defence spending package. Other possible subjects for Democratic oversight include U.S. policy toward Ukraine and military strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats in Latin American waters. Trump praised Hegseth, saying he had done a “fantastic job,” and linked opposition to him to his removal of generals whom Trump characterized as “woke.” Trump also praised U.S. operations in Venezuela and Iran. However, reports suggest Hegseth may still be at risk of losing his position as Republicans examine their election losses. One Trump adviser said he “could be on the chopping block,” while the War Department said Hegseth was fully committed to serving through the end of Trump’s term. Hegseth urged lawmakers to approve funding for the Pentagon, arguing that military rebuilding should continue regardless of public opinion about the war. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said Hegseth faces “a reckoning” and that his relationship with lawmakers is impeding the administration’s spending agenda. Expected House Armed Services Committee chair Adam Smith promised oversight of the Iran war and what he described as the weakening of the armed forces’ apolitical foundation.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied reports that he plans to leave President Donald Trump’s administration after Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections. In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio said it had “always been” his plan to serve until the end of Trump’s term. He also rejected reports that he was considering an exit, saying he did not know where they originated. Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, is widely viewed as a potential contender for the 2028 Republican presidential nomination. He appeared with Trump at a campaign rally shortly before the midterm elections, briefly addressing the crowd from the podium. However, Rubio declined to discuss his political future, saying, “I literally will not talk about 2028 anymore.” Bloomberg News had reported that Rubio was weighing whether to leave and had spoken with White House officials about stepping down, but that officials asked him to remain. The State Department disputed the reports. Assistant Secretary of State for Global Public Affairs Dylan Johnson described Bloomberg’s story as “totally made up.” He also rejected a report by The Independent that Rubio was planning a 2028 presidential campaign, calling it “completely baseless fake news.” Rubio has previously said he would support Vice President JD Vance if Vance ran for president. Vance, like Rubio, is considered a possible candidate in 2028. The article presents the conflicting reports and denials without resolving speculation about either man’s political plans.

France 24 reports that the future of US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has come into question following a setback for Republicans in the November 3 midterm elections. The article says that on November 5, Hegseth issued a video message in which he vowed to fight efforts in Congress to impeach him. He also defended the war with Iran, describing it as “courageous and historic.” The report provides no further details about the congressional efforts, the election results, or the arguments Hegseth made in his video. France 24’s International Affairs Editor Philip Turle provides additional commentary in the accompanying video. The piece is a brief news update connecting the midterm setback to uncertainty about Hegseth’s political future, while noting his public response and defense of the Iran war.

After Republican setbacks in the 2026 midterm elections, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected reports that he may leave President Donald Trump’s administration. In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio said completing Trump’s second term had always been his plan, expressed satisfaction with his work, and declined to discuss a possible 2028 presidential campaign. Rubio has previously said he would support Vice President JD Vance if Vance sought the presidency, calling him a friend and a strong potential candidate. Vance’s post-election comments reportedly faulted the administration’s handling of the Iran war, its position on Israel, and its economic messaging. He said the war and voter concerns about Israel and the economy contributed to Republican losses. Rubio initially avoided weighing in, saying he was not deeply involved in domestic politics, but acknowledged that higher gasoline prices were not an easy issue for Republicans to campaign on. He nevertheless defended Trump’s decision to act, arguing that leadership sometimes requires choices that are politically unpopular but necessary for the country’s long-term future. The White House and State Department rejected reports of Rubio’s possible departure, calling them fabricated or baseless. Speculation about a broader administration shake-up has also centered on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose handling of the Iran war has faced criticism. Trump said he intended to keep Hegseth and later praised his performance. Hegseth, however, faces an impeachment effort from Republican Representative Thomas Massie, who says he plans to proceed with a resolution as early as the following week; Hegseth called the effort politically motivated. Separately, The Washington Post reported that Trump might consider replacing Joint Chiefs Chairman General Dan Caine or Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command. Both have had significant roles in advising on the Iran war.