Republicans lost the majority in both chambers of the US Congress. Marco Rubio dismisses rumors of resignation, Pete Hegseth prepares to face impeachment, and Vice President J.D. Vance calls for a reassessment of relations with Israel. Behind the personnel disputes are questions of American military aid and the war with Iran.
Author: Elena Gunko | NAnews
On November 5, 2026, Reuters reported that US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth promised to fight attempts to impeach him. On the same day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio denied reports of a possible resignation.
Both statements came after the midterm elections on November 3, in which Democrats gained control of the Senate and the House of Representatives. According to Reuters, they secured at least 54 Senate seats and reclaimed at least 30 seats in the lower house from Republicans.
Midterm elections occur in the middle of a presidential term. The president himself is not re-elected, but the composition of Congress, which influences the budget, laws, and parliamentary investigations, is changed.
Who might leave the Trump administration
On November 4, The Washington Sun reported, citing ten informed sources, that Trump’s circle is discussing the promotion of US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore.
Possible positions mentioned include Secretary of State, Deputy Secretary of State, and White House Chief of Staff instead of Susie Wiles.
The discussions are linked to speculation that Rubio may begin preparing for the 2028 or 2032 presidential elections. He previously called Vance a close friend and promised to support his candidacy.
However, Gore categorically rejected interest in a promotion. The White House and the State Department also denied the reports. Rubio himself told The New York Times that he intends to work with Trump until the end of his term and no longer plans to discuss the 2028 elections.
Thus, reports of internal discussions are confirmed, but not a decision on personnel changes.
Hegseth faces impeachment
The position of the Secretary of Defense is complicated by criticism of the war against Iran, which began in February, and his decisions within the Pentagon.
Republican Thomas Massie intends to reintroduce articles of impeachment against Hegseth. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries publicly questioned his continued tenure. Criticism was also voiced by Republican Senator Thom Tillis.
Democrats are preparing investigations into the dismissals of senior generals, management of military operations, Pentagon policy towards Ukraine, and strikes on alleged drug traffickers off the coast of Latin America.
Hegseth called the procedure political persecution and promised to remain in office. He considers the war against Iran necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Trump supported the minister, praised operations in Iran and Venezuela, and explained dissatisfaction with some personnel decisions by the dismissal of generals he considers supporters of the progressive ideology woke.
Meanwhile, Hegseth is seeking approval for defense funding of approximately $1.5 trillion (about 4.8 trillion shekels). The conflict with lawmakers complicates the discussion of these expenses.
Why Vance spoke about Israel
On November 4, the Vice President called the war against Iran the main reason for the Republicans’ defeat. According to him, voters are dissatisfied with the rising cost of living and want an end to the war, a return to the America First principle, and a change in relations with Israel.
Trump acknowledged that the war and high gas prices affected the results but continued to defend the decision to start the military operation.
Vance is considered a potential Republican candidate for the 2028 presidential elections. According to American media reports, he is already trying to regain the support of voters disappointed in the administration.
However, his statements do not imply a decision to reduce support for Israel.
What’s at stake for Israel
On November 5, the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) warned that the Democrats’ victory could change Washington-Jerusalem relations.
The most sensitive issue is the annual American military aid of $3.3 billion (about 10.6 billion shekels).
According to INSS, Trump announced an agreement with Benjamin Netanyahu to terminate this aid early, even before the end of the current 2016 agreement. The decision should not yet be considered a complete cessation of funding: the allocation of budget funds requires Congress’s involvement.
A new cooperation agreement also remains in question. Democrats may seek restrictions on arms supplies, sanctions for settler violence, and the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
Disagreements also exist within the Democratic Party itself: support for sanctions against individual settlers is broader than support for restrictions on arms supplies.
For Israel, the implementation of the American twenty-point plan for Gaza, as indicated by INSS, is also significant.
Is Trump’s impeachment possible
The new Congress will begin work in January 2027. Democrats will be able to conduct investigations and initiate impeachment of the president or ministers.
A majority in the House of Representatives is sufficient to declare impeachment. But removal requires the support of two-thirds of the Senate. Trump was impeached twice during his first term, but the Senate did not remove him.
For Ukraine, increased parliamentary control opens up the possibility of revisiting the administration’s decisions on military aid and relations with European allies. Meanwhile, Trump retains veto power and significant foreign policy authority.
For now, Rubio and Hegseth remain in their positions. But from January, White House decisions will depend on Congress, where Democrats have gained the majority. For Israel, the nearest practical test will be negotiations on military aid and defense cooperation.
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