Trump Administration Shake-Up Speculation Grows After Republican Midterm Defeat; Hegseth Faces Impeachment Threat

Speculation over a possible shake-up within US President Donald Trump's administration has intensified following the Republican Party's heavy defeat in the midterm elections, with reports suggesting that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could step down.

The White House, however, has dismissed reports of their possible departures as "fake news".

According to US media reports, pressure has been mounting within the administration to remove Hegseth, particularly over his handling of the war with Iran. The conflict has also been identified as one of the major factors behind the Republicans' poor performance in the midterm elections.

Meanwhile, outgoing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie has announced plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth.

Speaking to Politico, Massie said he intended to introduce the proposal early next week.

In response to the impeachment initiative, Hegseth has defended his record in a video message while strongly criticising the effort to remove him.

"Look, they attack me. They attack us because we're effective. It's not going to work. We're not backing down," Hegseth said.

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio has rejected reports that he plans to leave his position as secretary of state ahead of the 2028 presidential election.

In an interview with The New York Times, Rubio said his plan had always been to serve Trump until the end of the president's term.

"I love what I'm doing. And when they say he's going to leave the job, I always laugh and say, 'Which job?'" Rubio said.

The White House and the US State Department have also rejected reports suggesting that Rubio might resign following the Republicans' midterm defeat, describing them as "fake news".

However, uncertainty surrounding Hegseth's political future appears considerably greater.

Both Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have blamed the war with Iran for the Republicans' electoral losses. The setback has also opened the way for Democrats to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In a telephone interview with ABC News, Trump said he had received calls from various people concerning Hegseth.

Nevertheless, the president said he had every intention of keeping the defence secretary in his position.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump also praised Hegseth's performance.

"Pete Hegseth has done a fantastic job," he said.

Trump highlighted several military operations undertaken under Hegseth's leadership, including the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and the ongoing war with Iran.

Meanwhile, a report by The Washington Post suggested that Trump could also consider removing General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Both military officials have played significant roles in the conduct of the war with Iran over the past eight months.

The possibility of changes at the highest levels of the US military has added another dimension to speculation over a broader shake-up within the administration.

Despite Trump's public support for Hegseth, Republican Representative Thomas Massie remains determined to pursue impeachment proceedings against the defence secretary.

Speaking to Politico, Massie said he planned to introduce the proposal early next week.

In a post on X, Massie also warned Trump that Hegseth should be removed before a new Democratic-controlled Congress takes office in January.

According to Massie, the administration should act while there is still an opportunity to secure Senate approval for an alternative nominee.

Meanwhile, speculation has also emerged that Hegseth could be interested in running for the vacant US Senate seat in Tennessee.

However, Hegseth has dismissed the impeachment initiative as baseless in his video statement.

He described it as an attempt by a disgruntled and defeated congressman, working alongside his Democratic allies, to undermine his position.

In his video message, Hegseth also highlighted several initiatives undertaken by the Defence Department under his leadership to implement Trump's "America First" agenda.

These included efforts to revive military recruitment, rebuild the country's defence industrial base and eliminate diversity-related programmes within the military.

Criticising Democrats, Hegseth argued that their policies had failed and that they were now resorting to political theatrics and attempts to destroy their opponents.

"This is purely the politics of personal destruction," he said.

With the Republican Party facing mounting political challenges following the midterm elections, the future of key figures in Trump's administration has become a subject of growing speculation.

While Trump has publicly backed Hegseth and Rubio has denied any intention of stepping down, the impeachment threat and reports of possible changes in the military leadership suggest that the administration could face further internal and political pressure in the coming weeks.