Rubio Says He Is Staying
Rubio has rejected reports that he is thinking of leaving ahead of a 2028 presidential run. Working for Trump until the end of his term has "always been my plan," he said in an interview. "I love the work I'm doing," he added. "And plus I always laugh when they say he's going to leave his job. I go, 'Which one?'" The White House and the State Department both shut down the reports, calling them "fake news."
Hegseth Faces a Shakier Future
The defence secretary's position looks less secure. Trump and Vice-President JD Vance have both blamed the Iran war for the Republican losses that handed Democrats full control of the House and the Senate. Trump said he had received "calls about" Hegseth but has "every intention" of keeping him. Later on Thursday, he told reporters, "Pete Hegseth has done a fantastic job," and listed achievements including the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and the Iran war, now in its ninth month.
Reports also suggest Trump might consider ousting General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or Centcom chief Admiral Brad Cooper. Both played major roles in advising on the war, which began eight months ago.
An Impeachment Push
Republican Representative Thomas Massie, a frequent Trump critic, says he will trigger a resolution to impeach Hegseth early next week. He wrote that the president should replace Hegseth "while he can still get the replacements confirmed in the Senate," before the new Democratic-controlled Congress forms in January. Hegseth has also been rumoured to be interested in an open Tennessee Senate seat.
In a video statement, Hegseth hit back at what he called "sham articles of impeachment" from a "disgruntled, defeated congressman, along with all his Democrat allies." "They attack us because we are effective," he said. "It's not going to work. We will not back down." He pointed to revived military recruitment, a rebuilt defence industrial base and the removal of diversity initiatives as proof of his record. Of the Democrats, he said, "Their policies don't work. So their obsession with political theatre disguised as power drives them to try to destroy their opponents."
