NEW YORK, November 5. /TASS/. US President Donald Trump said he firmly intends to keep Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth in his position, despite receiving complaints from people who are dissatisfied with him.
"I have every intention to keep him," the US leader told ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl in an interview, while acknowledging that he receives calls from people "unhappy with Hegseth," Karl quoted the president on his X page.
"I get these calls, you know, about him. I don’t understand why," Trump said.
The US president also clarified that if a new defense secretary were to be appointed, it would be easier to do so before the Democrats take control of the US Senate in January.
Earlier, CNN reported, citing Republican Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky, that House Republicans would initiate a vote on Hegseth’s removal. Massie said he intended to bring a resolution to impeach Hegseth to a vote as soon as the US Congress resumes work next week.
On November 4, the US leader said he had no plans to fire Hegseth because he believed the defense secretary was doing a very good job. At the same time, according to CBS News, Trump discussed with aides in private conversations whether Hegseth should remain in the position following the Republicans’ defeat in the congressional elections.