Trump predicts Hegseth ‘very popular’ as Tennessee senator

On Wednesday, President Trump indicated he was not looking to replace Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, but suggested the Pentagon chief would be “very popular” if he pursued the U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee that Marsha Blackburn is vacating, The Hill reported.

The president’s remarks come as Republicans absorb a sweeping Democratic victory in Tuesday’s midterm elections, in which the opposition party captured the House of Representatives, the Senate, and multiple governors’ mansions. CBS News reported Wednesday that Trump has been privately asking advisers and allies whether Hegseth should remain in his post following the midterms, even as the president publicly defended his Defense secretary’s record.

TRUMP BACKS HEGSETH: President Donald Trump dismissed speculation Wednesday about replacing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth amid reports of a broader Cabinet shake-up after Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterms. Trump also said Hegseth "would be… pic.twitter.com/gBUkafVRXD”

— https://x.com/NEWSMAX/status/2118146327192510932

“No, I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump said when asked whether he is considering replacing Hegseth. “I actually think he’d be very popular if he did that. But I haven’t heard that at all.”

Hegseth Eyes Blackburn’s Senate Seat

A former Army National Guard major, Hegseth has shown interest in the open Tennessee Senate seat and has been quietly campaigning for the post, The Hill previously reported. The seat will open when Blackburn, who defeated Democrat Jerri Green on Tuesday night to become Tennessee’s first female governor, resigns to assume the governorship. The Senate term expires in early 2031.

Could Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fill Marsha Blackburn’s Senate seat in Tennessee?

Some political observers agree Hegseth would be a heavyweight in the race. Tennessee GOP operative Monty Lankford said the Defense secretary would bring significant influence to any campaign.

“I certainly think Pete Hegseth is going to be the guy that is going to have the most weight in the room. I mean, being the Secretary of War and having done what he’s done, and I’m confident [he would be] getting the endorsement of the president, I would think,” Lankford said, using the administration’s preferred name for the Department of Defense.

A Crowded Republican Field Takes Shape

Several other Tennessee Republicans are positioning themselves for the 2031 contest. Also in contention are Rep. Tim Burchett, who campaigned for Blackburn during the gubernatorial race, former Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs and former CoreCivic CEO Damon Hininger. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, who won reelection Tuesday in Tennessee’s 3rd Congressional District, also signaled interest.

Trump says Hegseth would be "very popular" if he filled Blackburn's Senate seat

“I will be honored to have that,” Fleischmann said in a recent interview with Tennessee Lookout.

Impeachment Threat Looms Over Pentagon

Questions are swirling inside the Pentagon over how long Hegseth lasts in his post after the midterms even if he is not removed by the president, something House Democrats are eager to pursue once they regain the majority, The Hill reported. The Democratic takeover of the House gives the party the power to launch impeachment proceedings against the Defense secretary, adding uncertainty to his future at the department regardless of Trump’s public support.