Trump’s Pentagon Faces a Reckoning After Iran War Dooms GOP In Midterms. Will Hegseth Take The Fall?

The Republicans' rout in the midterms has brought forth an unlikely question inside the Pentagon: Who will take the fall for the election debacle, now that the Iran war has turned into a political disaster for the Trump administration?

Whether or not President Donald Trump chooses someone to blame, three names have come up in discussions: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper.

While Democrats are expected to target Hegseth, those close to the administration believe the president might instead sack Caine or Cooper, according to The Washington Post.

Hegseth has been one of the chief advocates and public faces of the Iran war since the United States and Israel launched their military campaign in February. He has aggressively defended the conflict, championing an approach built around what he calls "maximum lethality."

He has repeatedly reprimanded media outlets and lawmakers who questioned the administration's war strategies, mounting costs and decision to continue fighting without congressional authorization. At one point, he even declared total victory over Iran. Eight months later, the fighting continues, and a peace agreement remains elusive.

People familiar with the military advice given to Trump told The Post that Hegseth, Caine and Cooper had, at different stages of the conflict, given the president overly favorable assessments without adequately explaining the risks and costs involved.

There was plenty of unease at the Pentagon on Wednesday. Senior officials had anticipated the possibility of Republicans losing control of Congress, but the scale of Tuesday's defeat has left them wondering whether Trump might want someone out.

One person familiar with the discussions described the situation as "very dynamic at the moment," with "knives out" as officials tried to figure out what would happen next.

Cooper, the commander overseeing American military operations in the Middle East, has been pushing for further strikes against Iran. He was at the White House as recently as last week recommending additional military action, according to The Post.

Caine had been more cautious before the war began. He warned about ammunition shortages and the lack of support from allies other than Israel, concerns that now appear particularly relevant given how much American weaponry has been consumed. Yet officials said he has generally avoided opposing Trump's military plans.

Trump has publicly defended Hegseth, telling reporters Wednesday that the defense secretary was "doing a very good job." He also dismissed suggestions that he would fire anyone because of the election results.

But the president's assurances have done little to settle the speculation. An adviser told Reuters that Hegseth could still be removed, with the administration looking for someone to take responsibility for the Republicans' losses.

"Someone is going to get blamed for this and you know it's not going to be him," the adviser said, referring to Trump.

There are signs that Hegseth's troubles extend beyond the president's immediate circle. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina openly questioned whether the defense secretary was the right person to lead the Pentagon's negotiations with Congress, especially when the administration is seeking a massive increase in military spending.

"Pete Hegseth has a reckoning," Tillis told CBS News on election night, questioning whether he could persuade lawmakers to approve the money the military wants.

The criticism is notable because Hegseth will need Republican support even before the Democrats take over Congress in January.

Vice President JD Vance has been unusually frank about why the party lost. "The reason we lost is the war," he wrote Wednesday in a lengthy post on X.

Vance said many Americans who backed Trump in 2024 were angry over the continued fighting, rising living costs and Washington's relationship with Israel. He questioned whether the war had been worth sacrificing Republican control of the Senate for the next six years.

Trump acknowledged that Iran had hurt the party at the polls, but said he would not have acted differently. The president has insisted that military action was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Hegseth could face a considerably more hostile Congress in January, even if Trump chooses to retain him.

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington, who is expected to chair the House Armed Services Committee, has promised vigorous oversight of the Pentagon. Hegseth's removal of senior military officers, his handling of the Iran war and the deadly strikes against vessels suspected of drug trafficking are among the matters likely to come under examination.

Smith has also suggested that some Republicans who would not support impeaching Trump might be willing to vote against Hegseth.

Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky has already filed articles of impeachment against the defense secretary. In September, he accused Hegseth of violating the War Powers Resolution by continuing military operations against Iran without congressional approval.

Massie's initial attempt to force a vote was blocked. He is expected to make another attempt when lawmakers return to Washington.

Hegseth has made clear that he wants to remain in his position for the rest of Trump's term. The Pentagon has defended his leadership, dismissing threats of Democratic investigations as politically motivated.