White House Denies Hegseth and Rubio Departure Rumors
The White House denies rumors that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will leave following Republican midterm losses.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- The White House dismisses rumors of the departure of Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio.
- Republicans suffered heavy election losses linked to the ongoing war in Iran.
- Republican Representative Thomas Massie plans an impeachment push against Hegseth.
- Marco Rubio confirms his plan to serve out the remainder of Trump's term.
The White House has officially denied swirling rumors suggesting that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio might exit their respective roles amidst a post-election shakeup within the Trump administration following significant Republican losses.
US media outlets have highlighted growing calls to replace Hegseth, pointing specifically to his handling of the Iran conflict—now entering its ninth month—which critics and party members blame for heavy Republican defeats that handed Democrats control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio has pushed back against reports suggesting he might step down ahead of a potential 2028 presidential bid. In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio emphasized that working alongside Donald Trump until the end of his term has always been his primary plan.
Midterm elections in the United States routinely serve as a critical referendum on the sitting administration. The loss of congressional control to the opposition party underscores public dissatisfaction with specific policies, notably foreign conflicts like the war in Iran, which subsequently triggers intense internal political friction and scapegoating within the ruling party.
President Donald Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have both openly acknowledged that the Iran war contributed heavily to the party's electoral setbacks. During a press appearance at the White House on Thursday, Trump strongly defended Hegseth, stating that he has performed a fantastic job and citing achievements such as the January arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Despite the administration's backing, Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a frequent internal critic, told Politico and posted on X that he intends to trigger a resolution early next week to impeach the defence secretary before the new Democratic-led Congress convenes in January.
Source: BBC World
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