[–] 52 points 10 hours ago

Trump defends Hegseth but acknowledges easier path to replacing him before new Congress

President Trump said Thursday morning he intends to keep Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his current role but acknowledged it would be easier to confirm someone new to lead the Pentagon before Democrats take control of Congress next year.

The president told ABC News’s Jonathan Karl that he has “every intention” of keeping Hegseth in the Cabinet, following reporting Wednesday that he was weighing whether the Defense chief should stay in the post after the midterm elections.

Trump said he’s received calls from people who are concerned about Hegseth but noted he didn’t “understand why.” live-tucker-reaction

On Wednesday, he suggested Hegseth would be “very popular” if he was elected to replace Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) in Congress; Blackburn opted to run for Tennessee governor instead of reelection. Trump also said the Defense secretary was “doing a very good job.”

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