# Trump weighs making Pete Hegseth the fall guy for Republicans’ crushing loss: ‘Knives are definitely out’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/trump-weighs-making-pete-hegseth-the-fall-guy-for-republicans-crushing-loss-knives-are-definitely-out/
- Published: 2026-11-05T01:27:11+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T01:33:18+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/us-news/trump-weighs-making-pete-hegseth-the-fall-guy-for-midterm-loss/
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Trump is consulting allies about Hegseth’s future.
- Hegseth says he is committed to staying in his post.
- Republicans’ losses could complicate Trump’s agenda and nominations.

## Summary

New reporting says Trump is asking allies whether to remove Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth after Republicans’ midterm losses, with some senior West Wing staff reportedly turning against him. Hegseth has ruled out leaving voluntarily for a Senate appointment, while Trump said he was doing a very good job and that he did not plan to fire him.

Hegseth advocated for and oversees the Iran war, which Trump and Vice-President JD Vance identified as a key factor in the losses, alongside rising energy prices and inflation. Republicans lost seven Senate seats, with two more losses possible, and at least 29 House seats; Democrats are expected to control Congress and may block Trump’s agenda and nominations, investigate his administration and pursue impeachment. The article cites George W. Bush’s replacement of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after Republican losses in 2006 as a precedent.

## Coverage

- [New York Post: Trump weighs making Pete Hegseth the fall guy for Republicans’ crushing loss: ‘Knives are definitely out’](https://nypost.com/2026/11/04/us-news/trump-weighs-making-pete-hegseth-the-fall-guy-for-midterm-loss/)
- [The Guardian: Pete Hegseth may take fall for Republicans’ midterm losses, despite Trump support](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/nov/04/pete-hegseth-republicans-midterm-losses)
- [Daily Mail: DAILY MAIL COMMENT: As Republicans suffer crushing defeat, Donald Trump only has himself to blame for midterm elections misery...](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16266073/DAILY-MAIL-COMMENT-Republicans-suffer-crushing-defeat-Donald-Trump-blame-midterm-elections-misery.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.