Trump rules out White House personnel shake-up after Republican midterm defeats and backs Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth despite Iran war criticism

U.S. President Donald Trump ruled out personnel changes in his administration following Republican losses in the November 3 midterm elections and expressed confidence in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose leadership of the Pentagon has placed him at the center of the U.S. military campaign against Iran.

“I think he’s terrific actually,” Trump told The Wall Street Journal when asked about Hegseth, according to the newspaper.

The president’s endorsement came amid questions about whether the administration would make changes to its senior leadership after Democrats made major gains in Congress and the war with Iran became a source of political pressure on Republicans.

Hegseth has overseen the Pentagon during the conflict, which began in February with U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran. The prolonged fighting and its consequences for energy prices have become central issues in the political debate following the midterm elections.

Trump has acknowledged that the war contributed to Republican losses but maintained that his decision to launch the campaign was correct. In a separate remark to the Journal, he said he would make the same decision again.

His support for Hegseth indicates that, at least for now, the president does not intend to respond to the election setbacks by replacing the official responsible for directing the Defense Department.

The comments also contrast with reports of concern among some Trump allies about the political costs of the conflict and the possibility of changes within the administration.

By ruling out a personnel shake-up, Trump signaled his intention to retain his existing leadership team as he prepares to face a Congress in which Democrats are expected to exercise substantially greater influence over legislation and oversight.