Trump for now dismisses talk of replacing Defense Secretary Hegseth

[Financial News] U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to keep Pete Hegseth as defense secretary. There is also speculation that a sudden change at the top could take place before next January, when Democrats take control of Congress.
In an interview with ABC News on the 5th (local time), President Trump dismissed reports that he was considering firing Secretary Hegseth after a midterm election defeat, saying, “I have every intention of keeping Secretary Hegseth.” The previous day, Trump also said, “Secretary Hegseth is doing an excellent job,” signaling that he would not fire him.
However, President Trump acknowledged that it would be much easier to get a successor confirmed before Democrats take control of the Senate. Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the Senate, meaning cabinet nominees need only a simple majority for confirmation. By contrast, after Democrats gain seven Republican-held seats in this midterm election, they are expected to secure at least 51 seats in the new Senate, which convenes next January.
Even if President Trump keeps Secretary Hegseth in his post, the new Congress, led by Democrats, is likely to pursue impeachment proceedings. Republican Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who introduced an impeachment resolution against Hegseth in September, said he would press ahead with a vote as soon as Congress reconvenes next week. Democratic Representative Adam Smith of Washington, who is expected to chair the House Armed Services Committee in the new Congress, had also expressed support for impeachment proceedings against Hegseth before the election. Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who has announced his retirement from politics, has also called for the secretary's removal since at least September. An impeachment resolution requires majority support in the House to pass, while final removal requires a two-thirds vote in the Senate.
A major reason Hegseth's position has become precarious is public sentiment over the war with Iran, with exit polls showing that many voters were dissatisfied. Hegseth has been regarded as one of the administration's leading advocates of the war with Iran.
Meanwhile, the possibility of Hegseth running for a Senate seat in Tennessee has also been raised. Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, having won the state's gubernatorial election and set to take office in January, will directly appoint a successor to serve until a special election in November 2028. President Trump said Hegseth would be “very popular” if nominated for the seat, and Hegseth has reportedly also expressed interest in it.
However, Pentagon spokesperson Kingsley Wilson dismissed the talk of a replacement and a potential Senate run as “nothing more than rumors in Washington, made up by anonymous sources.”
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