Trump reportedly considers blaming Hegseth and senior military commanders for Republican midterm losses over Iran war
President Donald Trump is privately questioning the future of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth following Republicans’ sweeping defeat in the U.S. midterm elections, as some administration officials blame the war against Iran for the party’s electoral losses, according to CBS News.
The network reported Wednesday, November 4, citing multiple sources familiar with the discussions, that Trump has been asking advisers whether Hegseth should remain in his position.
Some White House aides also expect scrutiny to fall on Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, over their roles in advising the president on the military campaign against Iran.
The discussions reflect growing tensions within the administration over a conflict that began in February and has continued for more than eight months, despite earlier expectations of a much shorter military operation.
According to CBS News, some Trump advisers believe Republicans could have performed significantly better in Tuesday’s elections had the war not taken place.
The conflict has become a political liability for the administration amid rising energy prices, economic pressure and growing public opposition to continued military involvement in the Middle East.
Trump himself acknowledged that the war contributed to the Republican defeat.
“I think a part of it was Iran,” he told Fox News, while defending his decision to launch the military campaign.
In a separate interview with The Wall Street Journal, Trump said he did not regret the war and would make the same decision again.
The reported internal criticism follows earlier accounts that Trump had become frustrated with military advisers who presented optimistic assessments of the campaign and suggested it could be concluded before the midterm elections.
Hegseth and Caine have faced questions about their assessments of the war, while Cooper has been involved in planning military options as head of CENTCOM.
However, the reported discussions do not establish that Trump has decided to dismiss any of the three officials.
The White House has previously defended Hegseth and Caine, saying the president retains confidence in their leadership. The Pentagon has also rejected allegations that Hegseth withheld unfavorable information about the war.
The election results have intensified pressure on the administration, with Democrats securing control of both chambers of Congress and gaining greater authority to investigate the conduct and costs of the conflict.
The emerging debate within Trump’s circle now centers on whether responsibility for the political consequences of the war will fall on the president’s military advisers or on the decision to launch the campaign itself.