Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces mounting pressure over the Iran war following Republicans' midterm losses, with senior Pentagon leaders reportedly confronting questions about the conflict's political cost even as President Donald Trump says he intends to keep him.
The Washington Post reported that senior Pentagon officials were confronted Wednesday over the war's unpopularity and its apparent contribution to the Republican defeat. Potential personnel changes could extend beyond Hegseth to Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Adm. Brad Cooper, who has overseen the campaign, according to the newspaper.
Trump offered another public endorsement Thursday morning, telling ABC News' Jonathan Karl that he had "every intention" of retaining Hegseth. The president acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with the defense secretary, then added: "I don't understand why."
The assurances come ahead of a threatened impeachment vote and a transfer of congressional control that could subject the Pentagon to more aggressive scrutiny. Democrats will take over both the House and Senate in January, narrowing Trump's window to secure confirmation of any replacement under a Republican majority.
Trump acknowledged Thursday that confirming a successor would be considerably easier before the Senate changes hands. He has not announced a dismissal or nominated a replacement.
Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September. Among the accusations is that Hegseth abused his office by conducting military operations against Iran without congressional authorization. Those allegations have not been adjudicated through an impeachment trial.
Massie has pledged to force a vote during the first week after the House returns on Nov. 9, provided Hegseth remains in office. The move would put lawmakers on record over the defense secretary's conduct while Republicans still control the chamber.
The pressure on Hegseth also reflects competing accounts within the administration of why Republicans lost. Vice President JD Vance placed the conflict at the center of his explanation Wednesday, writing: "The reason we lost is the war."
Trump, by contrast, continued to defend the decision to launch the campaign. Appearing at the White House ballroom construction site Wednesday, he said he understood Vance's position but did not regret the war and considered it worthwhile.
At the same appearance, Trump said Hegseth was "doing a great job." Asked whether the defense secretary might instead fill the Tennessee Senate seat that Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn will vacate, Trump said Hegseth would be "very popular" there. No appointment or agreement to leave the Cabinet has been announced.
A separate report has added questions about financial connections involving Hegseth's family. Politico reported Wednesday that his wife, Jennifer Hegseth, had received payment for consulting work from Watchtower Strategy, a Washington firm connected to Trump whose clients have included defense contractor Lockheed Martin.
The reported relationship raises potential conflict-of-interest questions, but does not by itself establish that Jennifer Hegseth worked on Lockheed Martin matters or that the defense secretary influenced decisions benefiting the company. The account provided no details about the consulting assignment, its timing or the amount paid.
