Trump officials seek scapegoat after midterm losses

Republicans suffered crippling losses in Tuesday's midterm elections, with Democrats winning control of both the House and Senate, triggering a civil war within the Trump administration as officials scramble to assign blame and find someone to take the fall. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is seen as the leading contender for dismissal due to his role in prosecuting the Iran war, a major voter concern, with President Trump reportedly making calls about whether to fire him. Vice President JD Vance has publicly blamed the war for the losses, while White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles is reportedly maneuvering to pit Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio against each other to protect her own position. Trump has publicly said he plans no Cabinet changes, faulting GOP candidates instead. Staffing shakeups after midterm losses are precedented, such as George W. Bush dismissing Donald Rumsfeld in 2006. Exit polls also cited cost of living, corruption, AI, and immigration as key voter concerns.