Trump defends Hegseth amid reports of possible ouster as Democrats plan Iran war probes

US President Donald Trump said on November 4 that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is "doing a great job", after CBS reported that Trump, following the Republicans' heavy defeat in the congressional elections, had asked advisers whether Hegseth should be replaced. The White House said the president has "full confidence" in the secretary.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told ABC News that Hegseth "will not back down or be deterred by politicians seeking to score partisan points or launch phony investigations" and is "100% committed" to leading the department until the end of Trump's term. There is also speculation that Hegseth could take the Senate seat of Marsha Blackburn, who was elected governor of Tennessee; Trump said Hegseth would be "very popular" there.

The war as the cause of defeat

Vice President JD Vance wrote that Republicans lost "because of the war", and Trump called that "largely true" because the war temporarily drove up fuel prices, but added he would "do it again". According to the ABC News Voter Poll, 34 percent of voters named the Iran war as crucial to their vote, 49 percent the cost of living and 55 percent government corruption.

Democrats, who take over both chambers in January, say they will use subpoena power to investigate the Iran war, the legality of strikes on boats suspected of drug smuggling and Hegseth's firings of senior officers. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said: "This war must end."