Trump: “I won’t replace Hegseth” [U.S. Midterm Elections]

[Financial News]  

U.S. President Donald Trump said on the 4th (local time) that the Iran war was indeed responsible for the election loss, but that he would not replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
He also said the Iran war had been unavoidable and warned that the Democrats, who control Congress, would be destroyed if they pursued his impeachment.
Trump made the remarks to reporters at the White House ballroom construction site the day after the midterm elections, in which Republicans suffered a crushing defeat.
Asked whether he agreed with Vice President JD Vance’s remark that the Iran war was to blame for the election loss, he said, “I think that’s largely right. (The war) pushed gas prices up a little in the short term.” But he stressed, “If we had to go to war again, we would do it again,” adding, “In the long run, that’s the only answer. We can’t let Iran have nuclear weapons.”
In that context, he indicated that he was not considering replacing Hegseth, who had led the Iran war. Asked whether he was considering a replacement, Trump said, “No. He’s doing a good job.”
CBS had earlier reported that the president had asked his aides that day whether he should fire the defense secretary.
Trump also appeared highly concerned that the Democrats might pursue impeachment against him in the wake of the election loss.
He claimed, “If they pursue impeachment, the Democrats will be destroyed.”
The Democrats have yet to settle on a position on pursuing impeachment. Some argue that he should be impeached over various allegations of misconduct, but there is also considerable support for a cautious approach, given that impeachment could rally his supporters and only intensify political strife.
Meanwhile, as analysts described the midterm elections as a kind of vote of confidence in Trump’s governance, he once again displayed narcissistic tendencies.
He claimed that the Republicans would have won if he had been on the ballot, saying, “There was tremendous enthusiasm at the [midterm] campaign rallies, and it was really something, but that enthusiasm didn’t carry over to the candidates.” He maintained that the Republicans were responsible for the election loss and that his support base remained solid.
He did not contest the election results, but he did not concede his own defeat.

[email protected] Song Kyung-jae Reporter