Pete Hegseth's Job Could Be in Jeopardy After Midterm Election Fallout
Andrew Powell · Nov 5, 2026 · 2 min read
President Donald Trump publicly defended War Secretary Pete Hegseth Wednesday, but growing questions from inside and outside the administration have fueled speculation about whether the Pentagon chief will survive the political fallout from the midterm elections.
According to Fox News, when asked by reporters whether he was considering replacing Hegseth, Trump offered a brief show of support.
"I think he's doing a very good job," Trump said.
The endorsement came one day after Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress, setting up a significant shift in Washington when the new lawmakers take office in January.
The Iran war and its economic consequences were major issues in the election, with Hegseth serving as one of the administration's most outspoken defenders of the military campaign.
A White House official told Fox News Digital that the election results "would have looked very different without the Iran War," predicting Trump would eventually hold Hegseth responsible.
"That will play out in the lame duck," the official said. A former White House staffer was even more direct, telling the outlet, "Hegseth is on the chopping block."
Another administration official acknowledged that there were signs Hegseth could be removed, although the source cautioned that Trump could change his mind at any moment.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's growing influence has also raised questions about Hegseth's standing. One source suggested Bessent had become Trump's preferred adviser on Iran after Hegseth failed to deliver the outcome the administration wanted.
Hegseth has also encountered bipartisan criticism over a proposal to livestream the execution of former Army Maj. Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people and wounded 32 others at Fort Hood in 2009. Trump eventually scrapped the livestream plan while leaving the execution in place.
Meanwhile, Democrats have signaled plans to scrutinize Hegseth's leadership when they take control of Congress. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries previously vowed to "run Pete Hegseth out of town" if Democrats won the House.
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has also promised to force a vote on his impeachment resolution against Hegseth during the lame-duck session.
Despite the mounting pressure, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell insisted the secretary has no plans to leave.
"Secretary Hegseth will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points," Parnell told Fox News Digital.
The situation carries echoes of 2006, when President George W. Bush announced Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation one day after Republicans suffered major midterm losses amid mounting opposition to the Iraq War.