Pete Hegseth's Loyalty Makes Him Valuable to Trump After Midterm Defeat

President Donald Trump is reportedly considering whether to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Republican Party's midterm defeat, which was largely blamed on the Iran war's economic fallout. Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, who urged the military action. Hegseth's value to Trump lies in his loyalty and willingness to execute aggressive orders, such as the Venezuela raid, rather than conventional Pentagon management. With Democrats set to control Congress, Trump may prioritize a defense secretary who supports unilateral military power over one who can negotiate with lawmakers. Hegseth faces criticism from lawmakers over strained relations and the prolonged Iran conflict, with some threatening impeachment. A successor could be confirmed before January, but Trump's incentives may favor keeping a yes-man as he pursues further audacious operations.