White House Denies Reports of High-Level Resignations After Midterms

The White House has strongly denied reports that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are considering resignation following the Republican party's losses in the midterm elections on 3 November.

Rumours began circulating in US media after Democrats secured control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Some Republican voices reportedly blamed the war with Iran for the electoral defeat and called for changes at the top of the administration.

Pete Hegseth responded on Thursday with a video message on social media, defending his record and condemning any move to remove him. "You see, they attack me. They attack us because we are effective," he said. "They will not succeed. We will not give in."

President Donald Trump has also voiced support for Hegseth. In an interview with ABC News, he said he had "all intention" of keeping the defence secretary in his post, despite acknowledging it might be easier to name a replacement before Democrats take control of Congress in January.

Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, has said he plans to initiate impeachment proceedings against Hegseth as early as next week, adding to the uncertainty.

Similarly, Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed speculation that he would resign to prepare for a possible presidential run in 2028. "Honestly, I don't know where these rumours come from," Rubio told The New York Times. "I love the work I do." He added that serving under Trump until the end of the term "has always been my plan."

A spokesperson for the State Department described the reports as "completely false news based on anonymous sources," insisting that Rubio will continue to serve. However, Harmeet Dhillon, head of the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department, became the first senior Trump administration official to resign after the midterms, though she said she had informed the White House of her intention back in October.

Democrats have already indicated they may launch investigations into several agencies, including the State Department, once they take control of Congress in January. Among the issues they have raised are the attempted transfer of funds to Trump's Peace Council and alleged loyalty tests for career diplomats.