Explainer
Why are Republicans pointing at Pete Hegseth after the midterm losses?
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Republicans lost the midterms, and some of their own want someone to blame. Vice President JD Vance put it bluntly on X: The reason we lost is the war.
“The reason we lost is the war.”
Hegseth is vowing to fight for his job. In a video from the Pentagon he said: Just like the president, we don't back down, and that especially applies now.
“Just like the president, we don't back down, and that especially applies now.”
A quieter exit runs from Washington to Nashville. Marsha Blackburn will resign her Senate seat in January and appoint her successor. A person close to Hegseth says he is not interested, and a Blackburn-linked operative says she is not considering him.
Washington and Nashville
Hegseth vowed to stay on November 5, 2026. The next deciding date is 3 January 2027, when the new Democratic House takes over and impeachment proceedings are expected.
- 5 November 2026Hegseth vows to stay
- 3 January 2027Coming upDemocratic House takes over
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The story
Hegseth vows to stay as Defense Secretary as Republicans blame Iran war for midterm lossesRead the article
Based on reports by
- Washington PostHegseth not under consideration to be appointed to Senate
- The New York TimesHegseth Lashes Out at Critics Calling for His Firing
- The IndependentHegseth vows 'not to back down' in pushing out Trump's agenda after midterm losses
- Deutsche WellePete Hegseth under fire as Republicans seek blame for midterm debacle