Trump backs Hegseth as Rubio denies exit reports after election losses

President Donald Trump says he intends to keep Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio has rejected reports that he is considering leaving the administration.

Questions about their futures have followed the US midterm elections, in which Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress. Democrats will take their majorities in January, giving them greater power to scrutinise the administration. Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have said the war with Iran contributed to the Republican defeat.

Trump told ABC News on Thursday that he had “every intention” of keeping Hegseth, although he acknowledged receiving calls from people unhappy with the defence secretary. A day earlier, he had told reporters he was not considering replacing him.

Reuters reported that a Trump adviser had raised the possibility that Hegseth could be replaced because of the war. The Pentagon said Hegseth was committed to leading the department until the end of Trump’s term.

Hegseth also faces pressure from Republican congressman Thomas Massie, who has said he plans to introduce an impeachment resolution next week. Massie has accused Hegseth of directing US forces into hostilities against Iran without congressional authorisation. Hegseth denounced the impeachment effort in a video statement. A House impeachment vote would not by itself remove him from office; the matter would go to the Senate.

Separately, The Independent reported that sources in the US and British government expected Rubio might leave to prepare for a presidential bid in 2028. The paper also quoted an administration insider who said Rubio had shown no signs of wanting to quit, while acknowledging that the situation could change.

The White House and State Department rejected the report. Rubio told The New York Times that working for Trump until the end of his term had “always been my plan”, according to the BBC.