UPDATE: Trump Says He Is Not Considering Replacing Hegseth
The president says his defense secretary is doing "a very good job," after reports that he had asked advisers about Hegseth's future.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he is not considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, publicly defending the Pentagon chief after reports of private discussions about his future following Republican midterm losses.
"No, I think he's doing a very good job," Trump told reporters when asked whether he was considering replacing Hegseth.
The president also said Hegseth would be "very popular" if he filled the Tennessee Senate seat being vacated by Gov.-elect Marsha Blackburn, but added that he had not heard about such a move.
As previously reported, Trump had been asking advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should remain in his job following Republicans' midterm election losses, according to a report citing multiple people familiar with the discussions.
No decision to replace Hegseth has been announced. The White House said Trump has "full confidence in Secretary Hegseth."
The report said Trump had raised the question with advisers in person and by phone. It also said some aides expected scrutiny of other senior military leaders involved in the Iran war, including U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was mentioned as a possible replacement, according to one person cited in the report. That remains a reported possibility, not a nomination or an announced appointment.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly defended Hegseth's record, praising military operations in Iran and Venezuela and his changes at the Pentagon.
The account of the discussions rests on one original report with unnamed sources. There has been no official announcement of a change in Pentagon leadership.