Trump backs Hegseth as Democrats plan Iran war probes

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will remain in his job, dismissing replacement speculation amid fallout from the Iran war and looming Democratic investigations. Trump told reporters Hegseth is "doing a great job" and predicted he would be popular in Tennessee, where Sen. Marsha Blackburn won the gubernatorial race. The eight-month war has driven up gas prices and is widely seen as a major factor in Republicans' midterm losses. Democrats plan to use their new congressional majority to scrutinize Hegseth, potentially probing the Iran war, strikes on drug-smuggling boats, and his firings of senior military officers. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the GOP defeat, saying "everyone knows why we lost."