Trump says he intends to keep Hegseth but concedes a replacement is easier before January

President Trump said Thursday that he plans to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his job. In the same breath, he acknowledged that confirming a replacement would be easier before new Democratic senators are sworn in in January ².

In an interview with ABC News' Jonathan Karl, Trump said: "I have every intention to keep him." He added that he has been getting calls about Hegseth: "I get these calls, you know, about him. I don't understand why." ²

On tapeABC News · Nov 5

▶1:01

I have every intention to keep him.

Why the timing matters

A Defense secretary is a Cabinet officer, and the Senate must confirm one. Forbes reports that Trump acknowledged this would be easier before the new Democrats take their seats ².

That matters because the window is short. If Trump changed his mind, a successor could be confirmed by the current Senate. After January, a nominee would face a very different chamber.

From Channel GOPJeffries: Trump lied about who deportations would targetHakeem Jeffries · 56 plays · captioned, with the source named

On Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he would fire Hegseth. Forbes quotes him as saying he would not, and that "I think he's doing a very good job." ²

Pressure from both parties

Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday he would introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth ². Impeachment is the House's formal process for charging an official, and the Senate would then hold a trial. Massie said in October that he would reintroduce the articles if Hegseth is still defense secretary ³.

Democrats say Hegseth will be a major target once they hold their new congressional majority. They could use subpoenas, which are legal orders to produce documents or testimony, to look into the Iran war, strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats and Hegseth's unexplained firings of senior military officers ¹. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in October that Democrats would run Hegseth "out of town" if they win the majority ³.

Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, told The Hill in October that Hegseth stepping down might open the door to more bipartisan work on the annual defense policy bill and defense funding legislation ³.

Pentagon response and a Senate rumor

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told ABC News that Hegseth is "100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump's term in office." ¹

There is also talk that Hegseth may want Sen. Marsha Blackburn's Tennessee Senate seat. Blackburn won the governor's race Tuesday, which would open the seat. Asked about the idea, Trump predicted Hegseth would be "very popular" in the state ¹. Blackburn said, "It's not a conversation for today." ¹

Vice President JD Vance has said Republicans lost because of the Iran war, writing on social media: "The reason we lost is the war." ¹ Trump told ABC the war was necessary, saying, "The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it." ¹

What happens next

No replacement has been named, and we found no report of a nomination. Trump's own words leave the door open, and the clock runs out when the new Congress arrives in January ². Watch for whether Massie files his impeachment articles and how Republican senators respond.

The Record

1. Oct 26, 2026Massie says he will reintroduce Hegseth impeachment articles if Hegseth is still defense secretary ³.
2. Nov 4, 2026ABC News reports Trump dismissing the prospect of replacing Hegseth, as Democrats prepare investigations ¹.
3. Nov 5, 2026Trump tells ABC's Jonathan Karl he has "every intention to keep him" ².

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<h2>Trump says he intends to keep Hegseth but concedes a replacement is easier before January</h2> <p><em>By The GOP Files National Desk. This article first appeared on <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-says-he-intends-to-keep-hegseth-but-concedes-a-replacement-is-easier-before">The GOP Files</a> on Thursday, November 5, 2026.</em></p> <p>President Trump said Thursday that he plans to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his job. In the same breath, he acknowledged that confirming a replacement would be easier before new Democratic senators are sworn in in January .</p> <p>In an interview with ABC News&#39; Jonathan Karl, Trump said: &quot;I have every intention to keep him.&quot; He added that he has been getting calls about Hegseth: &quot;I get these calls, you know, about him. I don&#39;t understand why.&quot;</p> <blockquote><p>I have every intention to keep him.</p><p>&mdash; Donald Trump, President, Republican</p></blockquote> <h2>Why the timing matters</h2> <p>A Defense secretary is a Cabinet officer, and the Senate must confirm one. Forbes reports that Trump acknowledged this would be easier before the new Democrats take their seats .</p> <p>That matters because the window is short. If Trump changed his mind, a successor could be confirmed by the current Senate. After January, a nominee would face a very different chamber.</p> <p>On Wednesday, Trump was asked whether he would fire Hegseth. Forbes quotes him as saying he would not, and that &quot;I think he&#39;s doing a very good job.&quot;</p> <h2>Pressure from both parties</h2> <p>Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, said Wednesday he would introduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth . Impeachment is the House&#39;s formal process for charging an official, and the Senate would then hold a trial. Massie said in October that he would reintroduce the articles if Hegseth is still defense secretary .</p> <p>Democrats say Hegseth will be a major target once they hold their new congressional majority. They could use subpoenas, which are legal orders to produce documents or testimony, to look into the Iran war, strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats and Hegseth&#39;s unexplained firings of senior military officers . House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in October that Democrats would run Hegseth &quot;out of town&quot; if they win the majority .</p> <p>Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, told The Hill in October that Hegseth stepping down might open the door to more bipartisan work on the annual defense policy bill and defense funding legislation .</p> <h2>Pentagon response and a Senate rumor</h2> <p>Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told ABC News that Hegseth is &quot;100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump&#39;s term in office.&quot;</p> <p>There is also talk that Hegseth may want Sen. Marsha Blackburn&#39;s Tennessee Senate seat. Blackburn won the governor&#39;s race Tuesday, which would open the seat. Asked about the idea, Trump predicted Hegseth would be &quot;very popular&quot; in the state . Blackburn said, &quot;It&#39;s not a conversation for today.&quot;</p> <p>Vice President JD Vance has said Republicans lost because of the Iran war, writing on social media: &quot;The reason we lost is the war.&quot; Trump told ABC the war was necessary, saying, &quot;The Iran thing we had to do, and we continue to do it.&quot;</p> <h2>What happens next</h2> <p>No replacement has been named, and we found no report of a nomination. Trump&#39;s own words leave the door open, and the clock runs out when the new Congress arrives in January . Watch for whether Massie files his impeachment articles and how Republican senators respond.</p> <p><em>Read the original, with every source linked, at <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/story/trump-says-he-intends-to-keep-hegseth-but-concedes-a-replacement-is-easier-before">thegopfiles.com</a>. Republished under The GOP Files' <a href="https://thegopfiles.com/republish">free republishing terms</a>.</em></p> <img src="https://thegopfiles.com/api/rp/trump-says-he-intends-to-keep-hegseth-but-concedes-a-replacement-is-easier-before.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border:0;width:1px;height:1px">

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Sources

1. ABC News, “Trump dismisses prospect of replacing Hegseth amid Iran war fallout, looming Democratic investigations” (2026-11-04). abcnews.com/Politics/trump-dismisses-prospect-replacing-hegs
2. Forbes (via Yahoo News), “Trump Says He Has 'Every Intention' Of Keeping Hegseth As Defense Secretary” (2026-11-05). yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-says-every-intention-
3. KUTV, “Massie says he will reintroduce impeachment articles against Hegseth after midterms” (2026-10-26). kutv.com/news/nation-world/massie-says-he-will-reintroduce-i

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