President Trump has been asking advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should remain in his position following Republicans’ major losses in Tuesday’s midterm elections, according to CBS News. Multiple sources familiar with the discussions told CBS that Trump has raised the question both in person and over the phone. However, the president has not made a final decision on whether to replace Hegseth. Some White House aides have also suggested that Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, could face criticism for their roles in military planning surrounding the Iran war.

Vice President JD Vance has directly blamed the Iran conflict for the Republican defeat, writing on X Wednesday morning, “The reason we lost is the war.” Meanwhile, one source told CBS that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being considered as a potential replacement for Hegseth. The proposal reportedly involves confirming DeSantis through the Senate during the lame-duck period before he takes over the Pentagon after his gubernatorial term ends on January 5. Democrats had already been pursuing impeachment efforts against Hegseth before the election, and their newly strengthened majorities in both chambers could increase the likelihood of further action.

The White House has publicly pushed back against speculation surrounding Hegseth’s future. Press Secretary Anna Kelly said Trump “has full confidence in Secretary Hegseth,” while praising military operations in Iran and Venezuela and his efforts to reverse what she described as the previous administration’s prioritization of “DEI and woke ideology.” Despite the statement, the reports highlight growing pressure within the administration following the GOP’s historic losses. Whether Trump ultimately makes changes at the Pentagon could signal how his administration plans to respond to mounting political criticism over the Iran war.