Hegseth's future draws ominous predictions from insiders after GOP losses, but Trump isn't budging yet

President Donald Trump publicly backed War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, telling reporters he was doing "a very good job," one day after Democrats won majorities in both chambers of Congress. Even so, current and former administration figures are openly wondering how long the Pentagon chief will stay, and the Iran war and its economic effects were prominent themes in the election, with Hegseth among its loudest defenders, according to Fox News.

Speaking to Fox News Digital, a White House official said the results would have looked very different without the Iran War and predicted Trump would hold Hegseth accountable during the lame duck period. A former White House staffer said Hegseth is on the chopping block. Another administration official saw "signs" he could be pushed out, though noted Trump can change course suddenly and that only the president knows his intentions. One source said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who ran the sanctions campaign called Operation Economic Outcast, became the preferred figure after Hegseth failed to deliver victory.

Hegseth also backed livestreaming the execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan, convicted of the 2009 Fort Hood attack. Bipartisan criticism followed, and Trump dropped the broadcast plan but kept the execution.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Fox News’s reporting. Read the full story at Fox News →