Trump consults allies on Hegseth's future amid Iran war backlash

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s future at the Pentagon looks increasingly uncertain after senior officials blamed him for nudging President Trump toward a limited war with Iran that many say contributed to Tuesday’s massive midterm losses. Two sources close to the White House said the president has begun asking allies about Hegseth’s standing, signaling a possible shake‑up at the highest level of the Defense Department.

The criticism comes amid a volatile spring in U.S.–Iran relations. After a U.S. drone strike killed a senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard commander in early April, Tehran vowed retaliation. Trump ordered a series of strikes on Iranian proxy sites in Syria and Iraq, escalating a conflict that had been simmering since the 2020 killing of Qasem Soleimani. The moves sparked protests in Europe and the Middle East, and they dominated the political narrative in the weeks leading up to the midterms. Democrats framed the actions as reckless, while many Republicans struggled to defend a war that seemed disconnected from domestic concerns. The result was a swing of more than 30 seats to the Democrats, the largest shift in a House election since 1994.

Sources said Hegseth, a former Army officer and longtime defense hawk, was a key adviser in the decision‑making process that led to the strikes. Critics argue his advocacy for a “show of force” overrode caution from other senior officials. They point to a Pentagon briefing last month that warned of “strategic overreach” and the risk of a broader regional conflict. Hegseth’s defenders note his record of modernizing the force and his role in securing additional funding for cyber defenses, but they acknowledge the Iran episode has tarnished his reputation.

What happens next will likely be decided behind closed doors. If the president follows the advice of allies who are reportedly uneasy about Hegseth’s leadership, a senior replacement could be named before the end of the year. Congressional committees are expected to hold hearings on the Iran strikes, and members of the House Armed Services Committee have already signaled they will question Hegseth’s judgment. The outcome could reshape the Pentagon’s senior leadership and set a precedent for how the administration handles future crises that intersect with electoral politics.