WASHINGTON — President Trump said Thursday that he has “every intention” of keeping Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as pressure mounts to hold the Pentagon chief responsible for the sweeping Democratic victories in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
“I have every intention to keep him,” Trump told ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl. “I get these calls, you know, about him. I don’t understand why.”
Hegseth has come under mounting criticism for his management of the war in Iran, which he has strongly supported. Senior administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance, have pointed to the conflict while blaming Democrats’ gains in House and Senate races nationwide.
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Several Republicans, including retiring North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, have urged Trump to remove Hegseth and choose a successor while the GOP still holds a Senate majority.
At the same time, the House could vote as soon as next week on a resolution to impeach Hegseth when lawmakers return for their lame-duck session.
Democrats have indicated that they intend to target the former Fox News host if he remains in charge of the military when the new Congress begins on Jan. 3.
