GOP turns on Hegseth as Vance eyes 2028 and Rubio weighs exit
The Republican Party is turning on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after a devastating midterm election defeat, with Vice President JD Vance blaming the Iran war for the losses. President Donald Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, but impeachment threats are growing as Congress reconvenes. Vance is pushing a "new right" agenda focused on ending the war, tackling inflation, and revising the US-Israel relationship, while figures like Ron DeSantis and Ted Cruz also position for 2028. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly considering resigning to distance himself from Trump and protect his own presidential ambitions. The midterm losses have sparked internal GOP infighting, with Democrats' victory triggering a Wall Street selloff that erased $3.2 trillion in value. Critics like Mitt Romney see the results as vindication, while the Pentagon faces leadership turmoil amid questions about top military officials.