President Donald Trump has been asking advisers, both in person and over the phone, whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should stay in his job after Republicans’ catastrophic losses on Tuesday.
Some White House aides expect part of the blame for the midterm wipeout to land on Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, who both played big roles in guiding the Iran War, multiple sources told CBS News.
Other sources said Trump hasn’t decided whether to replace Hegseth himself.
One source said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being floated as a possible successor. The idea is that DeSantis could clear Senate confirmation during the lame-duck session, while Republicans still hold the chamber, and take over the Pentagon when his term as governor ends Jan. 5.
Hegseth’s troubles could deepen in January. Democrats were already trying to impeach him before the election, and that push could gain steam once they control both chambers.
Even within the administration, the war is taking the blame. “The reason we lost is the war,” Vice President JD Vance wrote on X on Wednesday.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly insisted the president “has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth.”