Trump considers firing Hegseth after midterm losses, DeSantis suggested as replacement - report

US President Donald Trump is contemplating whether to retain Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his position following the party's electoral setbacks in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to a report by CBS News. The sources cited by CBS suggest that the Republican losses can be attributed, in part, to Trump's stance on the Iran conflict.

In response, several White House aides have attributed a portion of the blame to Adm. Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Despite this, there is no definitive confirmation that Trump has made a decision to replace Hegseth, according to multiple sources. It is worth noting that Democratic lawmakers had already initiated impeachment proceedings against Hegseth before the midterm elections, an endeavor that could have succeeded given the Democrats' strong majorities in Congress.

As a potential replacement for Hegseth, CBS reported that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been mentioned as a possibility. DeSantis could undergo Senate confirmation during the lame-duck period, and upon assuming the role, he would serve through January 5, when Trump's term concludes. When asked for comment on the reports regarding Hegseth's future, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly affirmed that Trump maintains full confidence in Secretary Hegseth.