Trump backs Hegseth as Democrats plan Pentagon probes
President Donald Trump said Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is doing "a very good job" amid questions about his future, one day after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in midterm elections driven by voter anger over the Iran war. Trump's public backing contrasts with President George Bush's firing of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after the 2006 midterms, but sources said Hegseth could still be replaced as Republicans assess losses. Vice President JD Vance questioned the war's worth, while Senator Thom Tillis said Hegseth faces "a reckoning" over strained lawmaker relations. Democrats plan to investigate Hegseth's handling of the Iran war, military purges, and other policies, with impeachment articles already filed by one Republican. Hegseth could potentially fill Tennessee's Senate seat, as Trump noted he "would be very popular" in that role.