Trump considering possible replacements for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth: report
President asked several allies in runup to Tuesday's midterms whom they would recommend to succeed Hegseth, reports NBC News
WASHINGTON (MNTV) – President Donald Trump has told some of his allies in recent days that he is considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, NBC News reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the discussions.
Trump asked several allies in the runup to Tuesday’s midterm elections whom they would recommend to succeed Hegseth, two people familiar with the conversations told the outlet.
The discussions come amid growing tensions between Hegseth and members of Congress from both parties over the administration’s military operations, transparency and Pentagon spending.
Some of Hegseth’s upcoming travel has also been put on hold, according to four people familiar with the matter. Two said the changes could be related to Trump’s consideration of resuming major military action in Iran or could reflect political developments following the midterms, where the continuing Iran war was a major issue.
Hegseth was also among the few Cabinet members absent from the White House East Room on Tuesday night, where Trump and administration officials gathered to watch election results, according to a senior administration official and two other people familiar with the gathering.
A Defense Department official confirmed that Hegseth was in Washington but provided no further explanation for his absence.
Trump, however, dismissed speculation about a potential leadership change Wednesday, telling reporters he was not planning to replace the Pentagon chief.
“No, he’s doing a very good job,” he said.
Hegseth ‘has done a fantastic job’
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell also defended Hegseth, saying the defense secretary remained committed to his position.
“We will continue to drive President Trump’s agenda at the Department,” said Parnell, according to the report, “despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats — and Secretary Hegseth is 100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office.”
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump said Hegseth “has done a fantastic job.”
“You know, we had more generals than we did in World War II. We had so many generals. Everybody was a four-star general. I never saw anything like it. And many of those people were woke. I don’t like a woke general. And so he probably has opposition. I think he’s done a fantastic job,” he said.
Hegseth has faced mounting criticism from lawmakers in both parties, with some questioning the administration’s handling of the war with Iran and demanding greater transparency about military operations and their financial costs.
Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, a vocal Republican critic of the conflict, introduced a resolution in September seeking Hegseth’s impeachment.
Following the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Massie announced that he intends to force a House vote on the articles of impeachment as early as next week unless Hegseth resigns.
“There is one contingency in which I won’t reintroduce the articles of impeachment: Hegseth resigns,” he wrote on the US social media platform X.
The reported discussions about possible replacements add to uncertainty surrounding Hegseth’s future at the Pentagon, although Trump has publicly defended him and the White House has given no indication that a leadership change is imminent.
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