By Basant El-Faramawy
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will remain in his post, dismissing speculation about a possible replacement as the administration faces political fallout from the eight-month war with Iran and looming Democratic investigations.
Trump backs Hegseth
Speaking to reporters, Trump described Hegseth as "doing a great job" and predicted he would be "very popular" in Tennessee, where Senator Marsha Blackburn's seat will soon be vacant after her gubernatorial win. Hegseth intends to serve through the end of Trump's term, according to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, who said the secretary is "100% committed" and will not be deterred by "phony investigations."
Democratic investigations loom
Democrats, who gained control of Congress in the midterm elections, are preparing to use their subpoena power to scrutinize the Iran war, the legality of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats, and Hegseth's unexplained firings of senior military officers. Party leaders say they will balance oversight with a focus on affordability concerns that drove their electoral gains.
Vance blames war for GOP losses
Vice President JD Vance directly attributed the Republican defeat to the Iran conflict, writing on social media that "the reason we lost is the war." He argued Republicans should honestly assess whether the war was worth the political cost. ABC News voter poll data showed 34% of House voters considered the Iran war crucial to their vote, while 49% cited the cost of living and 55% cited government corruption.
