Trump Asks Advisers Whether Hegseth Should Remain

President Donald Trump has privately asked advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should remain in his post after Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress in the November 3 midterm elections, according to people familiar with the discussions. No decision to remove Hegseth has been announced, and the reported deliberations have not been independently confirmed beyond accounts traced to the same reporting. Trump publicly defended Hegseth on November 4, telling reporters he was doing a “very good job.” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump had full confidence in the defense secretary. The public statements do not establish what Trump discussed privately or whether he will make a personnel change. A person familiar with the reported conversations said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had been floated as a possible successor. There has been no formal nomination or appointment. One account said DeSantis could be confirmed by the Senate before his gubernatorial term ends on January 5, 2027, but that possibility remains speculative. The reports place the discussions against Republican losses in the midterms and scrutiny of the administration’s handling of the...