Republican search for blame puts Hegseth under scrutiny

Japan's news23 examines reported replacement discussions, Trump's public defense of his secretary and the foreign-policy risks allies could face.

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「負けた理由はイラン戦争だ」中間選挙で共和党大敗の責任は誰に？　バンス副大統領はトランプ氏と一線画す発言も…【news23】｜TBS NEWS DIG

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0:52Vance attributes Republican losses to the Iran war; Trump accepts the gasoline-price effect but defends his decision.
2:59The report cites replacement discussions involving Hegseth, alongside possible impeachment proceedings; Trump publicly backs him.
3:45Tehran demonstrators burn a banner of U.S. leaders; Iran's supreme leader dismisses the significance of America's political shift.
5:10Kotani outlines possible diplomatic moves involving North Korea, China and Russia that could bypass U.S. allies.
5:43Saito argues that Democratic gains alone will not resolve America's deeper problems of inequality, war and AI disruption.
6:53The broadcast warns that Japan could face increased pressure to fulfill its investment commitments to the United States.

Pete Hegseth is emerging as a possible target of Republican anger over the midterm defeat, even as Donald Trump publicly defends both his defense secretary and the Iran war, Japan's TBS NEWS DIG Powered by JNN reports in its news23 segment.

The report cites an unnamed Trump adviser telling Reuters that someone could be made to shoulder responsibility for the election losses, with Hegseth potentially taking that role. It also relays CBS reporting that Trump has discussed replacing him. Asked directly, however, the president rejects the suggestion: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."

Vice President JD Vance supplies the broadcast's central explanation for the defeat. His social media post says: "The reason we lost is the war." Trump largely accepts that assessment, but narrows its meaning to the short-term increase in gasoline prices. He remains unrepentant about military action: "If I had it to do again I'd have to do it again because long-term, it's the only answer."

The program interprets Vance's positioning as a potential move toward the 2028 presidential election, rather than evidence of an announced candidacy. It also reports discussion of possible Democratic impeachment proceedings against Hegseth over military operations conducted without congressional approval.

From Washington, the broadcast turns to Tehran. Demonstrators burn a banner depicting Trump and Vance and hold photographs the report identifies as children killed in U.S. attacks. Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, says a change in America's political balance will not change Iran's position, according to the report.

In the studio, presenter Shohei Fujimori recalls American voters describing their ballots as a matter of survival, not simply party preference. The discussion then asks what a president with two years remaining might attempt abroad.

Meikai University professor Tetsuo Kotani outlines possibilities, not announced policies: accepting North Korea as a nuclear power, declaring an end to the Korean War and withdrawing U.S. troops from South Korea, or reaching understandings with China and Russia over allies' heads.

University of Tokyo associate professor Kohei Saito argues that Trump reflects deeper American problems, and that Democratic victories alone will not resolve inequality, war or AI-driven disruption. The broadcast closes by warning that Japan could face stronger pressure to deliver on its investment commitments to the United States.

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