US President Donald Trump backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, a day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections that reflected voter anger over the Iran war.
Asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, whom he has described as a champion of the war, Trump told reporters, "No, I think he's doing a very good job."
Trump's decision differed from former president George Bush, who fired his defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld the morning after the 2006 midterm elections, when voter discontent over the Iraq war helped Democrats win control of Congress.
But sources said Trump could still replace Hegseth as Republicans assess their losses. According to a CBS News report citing multiple sources, Trump has been consulting with advisers on whether to keep Hegseth in his current role after the midterm election.
Both Trump himself and Vice President JD Vance cited the war with Iran as one of the primary reasons behind the Republicans' losses.
As a result, CBS reported, some White House aides predicted some of the blame for the losses will land on the chief of US Central Command, Adm. Brad Cooper, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine.
Other sources told CBS that Trump hadn't decided to replace Hegseth.
Before the midterm elections, Democrat lawmakers were already trying to impeach Hegseth, an effort that could succeed with Democrats holding strong majorities in Congress.
DeSantis floated as possible replacement
One name being floated as a possible replacement for Hegseth is GOP Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, one source told CBS.
DeSantis could potentially go through Senate confirmation in the lame-duck period and then take the post when his term expires on January 5.
When asked for comments on the reports surrounding Hegseth's future, White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that Trump "has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth."