November 4, 2026 — President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Pete Hegseth’s performance Wednesday, saying he was not considering replacing the Pentagon chief, according to The Wall Street Journal.
“No, I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump said in response to reporters, the newspaper reported. The statement conveyed the president’s assessment of Hegseth’s work.
SUPPORT AFTER THE MIDTERMS
The remarks followed the November 3 elections. In a separate account citing the Journal, The Western Journal reported that Trump also rejected the prospect of broad personnel changes and praised Hegseth.
That account linked the discussion of Hegseth’s future to questions about the administration’s handling of the Iran conflict and its political consequences. Trump acknowledged that Iran had played a role in Republicans’ election losses while defending his decision to pursue the war.
AN EXISTING SHOW OF CONFIDENCE
Trump had also praised Hegseth before Election Day. On August 31, the Washington Examiner reported that the president commended his leadership while declining to discuss a potential 2028 presidential bid in detail, saying it was too early. Those earlier comments concerned a separate question about Hegseth’s political future.
Wednesday’s statement provides a current indication of presidential support. Any subsequent personnel announcement would need to be assessed separately; praise alone does not establish how long an official will remain in office.
