Trump says Hegseth has done a fantastic job after the midterm losses
Donald TrumpPresident of the United States
President Trump answers a question about Pete Hegseth in the Oval Office, November 5, 2026.
Excerpt from 12:18 to 12:49 of the White House video. DI added its logo in the corner.
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Watch the full original video (opens in a new tab) (relevant passage: 12:18 to 12:49, answer on Pete Hegseth)
Asked in the Oval Office about talk of staffing changes, Trump said Hegseth had done a fantastic job and suggested his opposition came from cutting the number of generals, many of whom Trump called woke.
“Pete Hegseth has done a fantastic job. ... I don't like a woke general, and so he probably has opposition. I think he's doing a fantastic job.”
Original video
Original text
Reporting
Other statements by Donald Trump in this case
- Trump warns Democrats against impeaching Hegseth and calls him a great warriorEarlier: Defended or excused
Where this statement fits
Should Pete Hegseth be impeached?
Members of the House have advanced multiple impeachment proposals involving Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced H.Res. 935 in December 2025, Rep. Yassamin Ansari introduced H.Res. 1177 in April 2026, and Rep. Thomas Massie announced in September that he would offer a privileged resolution. The proposals allege distinct conduct involving military operations, oversight, and the handling of sensitive information; the proposals themselves do not establish those allegations. Hegseth disputed the characterization that anyone was “texting war plans,” while Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson called the April effort a charade and, after Massie read his articles on September 15, defended Hegseth’s record without addressing the specific allegations. The dispute is whether the House should impeach Hegseth on the basis of the congressional proposals and available evidence.
Source and context
Original video
About this source
Official White House video of Trump taking questions in the Oval Office at an executive order signing on November 5, 2026.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Watch the clip from this source at the top of the page.
Original text
About this source
Roll Call Factbase transcript of Trump's remarks and answers to reporters at an Oval Office executive order signing on November 5, 2026.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
CNN report on Republican efforts to blame Hegseth for the party's midterm losses, Massie's plan to force an impeachment vote and the Pentagon's response.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
A reporter asked Trump at an executive order signing whether he expected staffing changes, citing talk about Hegseth. A day earlier, Trump had told reporters he thought Hegseth was doing a very good job, CNN reported.
After the quotation
Trump went on to say the United States was in a war with Iran in which no one had been killed in months.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
On whether Hegseth should be impeached or removed, Trump praises his performance and attributes the opposition to his cuts to the generals' ranks, a defense of Hegseth.
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More from this case
Read the full caseHegseth calls the impeachment articles a sham and says the effort won't work
“A disgruntled, defeated congressman along with all his Democrat allies has also dropped sham articles of impeachment against yours truly. ... Didn't work against President Trump, and it won't work with me.”Read statement
Massie says his impeachment resolution is gentler than what Democrats will bring
“If Trump's going to replace appointees like Hegseth, he should do it while he can still get the replacements confirmed in the Senate. Also, my Hegseth impeachment resolution is a much gentler version of what's coming when Dem's control Congress. They'll have hearings & trials.”Read statement
Gene Healy urges Republicans to back impeaching Hegseth over the Iran war
“After Tuesday's electoral shellacking, GOP members should be looking for clear opportunities to distance themselves from Trump's disastrous and unnecessary war. Here's their chance to do that”Read statement
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- Trump says Hegseth has done a fantastic job after the midterm losses
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The Dispute Index. "Trump says Hegseth has done a fantastic job after the midterm losses". First published: 2026-11-06. Last updated: 2026-11-06. https://disputeindex.com/events/8307-asked-in-the-oval-office-about-talk-of