Hegseth’s future in question as Republicans assess midterm defeat

President Donald Trump has been asking advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should stay in his job after Republicans’ heavy midterm losses, multiple sources told CBS News. Some aides expect blame to fall on military leaders over the Iran war, while Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the defeat. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been floated as a replacement. Trump publicly said Hegseth is “doing a very good job,” and the White House voiced “full confidence.”

President Donald Trump has been asking advisers, both in person and by phone, whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should keep his job following Republicans’ heavy losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, multiple sources told <a href=”https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-hegseth-midterm-election-losses/”>CBS News</a>.

Some White House aides have predicted that part of the blame will fall on Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who both played big roles in guidance on the Iran war. Other sources said the president has not decided to replace Hegseth.

Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the defeat. “The reason we lost is the war,” he said in a post on X on Wednesday.

One source said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is being floated as a possible replacement. He could be confirmed by the Senate during the lame-duck period and take the post when his term ends on January 5.

Asked on Wednesday whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump told reporters, “No, I think he’s doing a very good job.”

White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said the president “has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth.”