White House denies Hegseth and Rubio to leave jobs after Republican election losses

What the report says

The White House has dismissed speculation that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio could be pushed out after Republicans suffered heavy losses in the latest US elections, according to BBC World News. The reports of a shake-up surfaced as the Trump administration came under pressure over its response to the Iran war, which some Republicans have blamed for the party’s poor showing and the loss of control of both chambers of Congress.

BBC reported that Hegseth faces the more immediate challenge. US media have described calls for him to be replaced, and Republican Representative Thomas Massie said he intended to move forward with an impeachment effort. Hegseth responded in a video statement defending his record, rejecting the impeachment push and arguing that critics were trying to derail what he described as an effective department.

Rubio, by contrast, publicly denied that he was planning to leave his post before the end of Trump’s term or to prepare for a future presidential bid. The State Department and White House also rejected the idea, calling such reports false. Rubio told The New York Times that staying in office had always been his plan.

BBC also noted that President Trump defended Hegseth, saying he intended to keep him in place and praising his performance. The reporting highlights the political strain within the administration after the election results and the possibility that other senior defence officials could also face scrutiny.