War Secretary Pete Hegseth ruled out voluntarily leaving the Trump administration for a Senate appointment Wednesday, even as President Trump reportedly considered whether to make him the public face of the Republican Party’s brutal midterm election wipeout.

Hegseth advocated for and oversees the Iran war, which contributed to steep Republican losses Tuesday. He also faces a looming impeachment vote over allegations that the conflict was waged without congressional authorization.

Democratic gains in the Senate mean Hegseth would likely face a public trial next year that could batter the administration. His cleanest exit could be an appointment to the Senate seat being vacated by Tennessee governor-elect Marsha Blackburn.

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Hegseth rejected that possibility while Trump consulted allies about whether to replace him. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell insisted the War Secretary intends to remain at his post through the end of Trump’s term.

“We will continue to drive [Trump’s] agenda at the Department of War — despite threats of sham witch hunts from Democrats — and Secretary Hegseth is 100% committed to leading the Department until the end of President Trump’s term in office,” Parnell said.

Multiple sources told The Post that Hegseth is an obvious near term candidate for removal following the Republican drubbing. The approaching transfer of Senate power in January could make securing confirmation for a replacement far more difficult.

EXCLUSIVE: According to a Senior WH official, Susie Wiles and top White House aides are leaking damaging information about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to the media.

“They intend to scapegoat Hegseth for the Republican Party’s devastating midterm defeat, in an effort to save themselves. Susie Wiles understands that the base wants to see a high level firing, but she intends for it not to be her. This is despite Susie having handpicked the majority of the Republican Senate candidates and lying to Trump about the polling in the weeks leading up to the election. Susie Wiles is chiefly responsible for yesterday’s catastrophic loss.” Follow: @AFpost — AF Post (@AFpost) November 5, 2026

“Knives are definitely out for him among senior West Wing staff,” a source close to the White House said. The source also cautioned, “I don’t know if it’s a foregone conclusion that he’s gone.”

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Another Trump insider said the president has been asking people for advice about what to do with Hegseth. The deliberations come despite the Pentagon chief’s continued popularity among the conservative base.

Much scapegoating for Iran is being pointed at SecWar Pete Hegseth in DC from members of the establishment that don't want themselves to fall under scrutiny

Couple points: - No one has backed President Trump more loyally than Pete since Day 1 - Finding a new SecWar means rushing to get someone in the lame duck session OR needing to go through a Democrat Senate to confirm a new SecWar - Pete is popular with the rank and file of the military and his anti-DEI warrior ethos policies have led to a big recruiting surge for the US military, blowing out quotas Pete is a Patriot — Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) November 5, 2026

Hegseth bears significant responsibility for the Iran war. Trump and Vice President JD Vance both identified the conflict as a leading cause of the landslide defeat because of rising energy prices and inflation.

A third person close to the White House said: “Somebody has to own this.” That source quipped, “When the word ‘war’ is in your title, then you might be the person in the crosshairs.”

A fourth person close to Trump said that, if placed in Hegseth’s position, he would be pleading with Blackburn for the Senate appointment. Hegseth, however, has publicly shut the door on that route.

Trump dismissed the growing speculation Wednesday, telling reporters that Hegseth was “doing a very good job” and that he did not plan to fire him. The president added that “he’d be very popular” if Hegseth pursued the Senate appointment.

Trump previously used similar language while praising former Attorney General Pam Bondi and former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem before firing them this year. That history is adding fuel to the questions surrounding Hegseth’s future.

That’s right. SECWAR Hegseth is my own red line.

— DataRepublican (small r) (@DataRepublican) November 5, 2026

John Ullyot, who served in national defense positions during both Trump terms, delivered a blistering assessment. “Hegseth has been a human wrecking ball swinging through one of our oldest and proudest institutions, and it will take years to undo the damage,” he said.

“He’s well past his sell-by date, and it’s time to give him the heave-ho,” said Ullyot, author of the new book “The President Deserves Better.” He added, “Any self-respecting leader with his record, in the military or the corporate world, would leave on his own before being shown the door.”

There is historical precedent for removing a war chief after a midterm defeat. President George W. Bush announced War Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s resignation on November 8, 2006, one day after major Republican losses fueled by public dissatisfaction with the Iraq War.

Republicans lost seven Senate seats Tuesday, with two more losses possible, and have shed at least 29 House seats. The results decisively handed Congress to Democrats, who are expected to block Trump’s legislative agenda and nominations while launching investigations that could produce a third presidential impeachment.

Before the election, speculation centered on former White House deputy chief of staff James Blair, who works at the Trump supporting super PAC MAGA Inc. He had directed the nationwide redistricting battle that some feared could backfire.

An internal National Republican Redistricting Trust assessment shared with The Post concluded that the effort prevented an even larger Republican bloodbath. The new lines likely preserved one additional GOP seat in Louisiana, one in Tennessee, and between one and four in Texas, compared with projections of one or two added Democratic seats in California.

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