Trump Backs Hegseth as Reports Describe Private Deliberations

President Donald Trump publicly backed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on November 4, saying he was doing “a very good job” when asked whether he was considering replacing him. The comments came a day after Republicans lost seats in midterm elections that gave Democrats control of both chambers of Congress, while reports of private discussions about Hegseth’s future left his longer-term position unsettled. Trump’s public remarks indicated support for Hegseth, but they do not establish that discussions about a possible change have ended. CBS News reported that Trump had asked advisers about Hegseth’s future but had not decided whether to replace him, citing people familiar with the conversations. Reuters also reported that sources said Trump could still replace the defense secretary as Republicans assessed their election losses. One Trump adviser told Reuters that Hegseth could face blame for the political fallout from the Iran war and risk losing his job. The account was attributed to a single adviser. The Defense Department, meanwhile, said Hegseth was fully committed to leading the Pentagon through the end of Trump’s term, which ends January 20, 2029. That statement reflects...