White House Denies Reports Hegseth and Rubio Will Resign After Midterm Defeat

WASHINGTON: The White House has denied reports that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are set to leave their posts following the Republican Party’s defeat in the midterm elections.

In an interview with the New York Times, Secretary of State Rubio said it had always been his plan to work with President Trump until the end of his term. The White House and the State Department both dismissed reports of Rubio’s departure as “fake news”.

According to American media, calls have been made for Hegseth’s removal, particularly over the handling of the Iran war, which is being cited as the main reason for the Republican Party’s heavy defeat. President Trump and Vice President JD Vance have both blamed the Iran war for the election results. Following the results, Democrats gained a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In a telephone interview with ABC News, Trump said he had received calls about Hegseth but fully intended to keep him in post. Later, speaking to reporters at the White House, he described Hegseth’s performance as outstanding.

According to the Washington Post, Trump could also consider removing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine or Admiral Brad Cooper, head of CENTCOM.

Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has said he will introduce a motion to impeach Hegseth early next week. He wrote on X that the president should nominate a replacement before the new Congress takes office, so that the Senate can confirm them.

In a video statement, Hegseth dismissed the impeachment effort as baseless and said he would not step down. He pointed to his record, including the restoration of recruitment and the rebuilding of the defence industrial base.