Trump says he will keep Hegseth despite calls to dismiss him

Donald Trump says he intends to keep Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, while acknowledging that people have urged him to dismiss the Pentagon chief. The competing public assurances and reports of private discussions come as Republicans face a narrowing window to confirm a replacement before Democrats take control of the Senate in January.

A new nominee would need to pass a Senate committee hearing and vote, followed by a simple-majority vote in the chamber; Hegseth himself was confirmed 51–50, with Vice-President JD Vance breaking the tie. Trump also said Hegseth could be popular as a senator, amid speculation about a Tennessee seat that will become vacant when Marsha Blackburn becomes governor on 17 January. The article reports concerns among Trump’s advisers about information Hegseth shared on the Iran war, while the White House and Pentagon say Trump has confidence in him and receives a full operational picture.