Trump says Hegseth doing 'a very good job' as questions swirl about his future

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump voiced his support for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, despite Democrats gaining control of both chambers of Congress in the recent midterm elections. The outcome of the elections was largely attributed to voter dissatisfaction with the ongoing war in Iran. When asked about potentially replacing Hegseth, Trump stated unequivocally: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."

This response contrasts with the actions of former President George Bush, who dismissed Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld on the day after the 2006 midterm elections, as discontent over the Iraq war led to Democrat victories in Congress. However, sources suggest that Trump may still consider replacing Hegseth, as Republicans analyze the political consequences of the war.

A Trump aide acknowledged that Hegseth could be a potential candidate for dismissal, stating, "Someone is going to get blamed for this and you know it's not going to be him (Trump)."