Trump: I intend to keep Hegseth in his post as Secretary of War

US President Donald Trump affirmed his intention to keep Pete Hegseth in his post as Secretary of Defense, denying plans to replace him, in remarks reported by ABC News, amid reports suggesting his dismissal following the Republican Party’s losses in the midterm congressional elections. CBS News had previously reported, citing informed sources, that Trump had consulted several of his advisors on whether Hegseth could remain in his position after the Republicans’ electoral setbacks, noting that the president had not yet made a decision to remove him. In the same vein, Reuters cited sources saying that the possibility of replacing Hegseth remains on the table, as Republicans seek to assess the reasons for their electoral defeat, particularly the economic and political repercussions of the war with Iran. Reports also indicated the possibility of Hegseth moving to the US Senate to represent Tennessee, to fill the seat that will be vacated by Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn after she is elected governor of the state. Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Barnell affirmed that Hegseth is fully committed to continuing his leadership of the Pentagon until the end of Trump’s term, dismissing what he described as politically motivated attempts to target the defense secretary.