CNNs chief data analyst Harry Enten is raising the prospect that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be pushed out of President Donald Trumps cabinet if Republicans fare poorly in the upcoming midterm elections.
According to Mediaite, Enten used a Monday segment on CNN to underscore that Hegseth has emerged as the least popular senior official in the administration, a politically perilous position heading into a high-stakes vote. Drawing on recent Quinnipiac and Fox News polling, he noted that Hegseths net approval rating stands at a striking -22, placing him behind Vice President JD Vance at -17, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at -9, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio at -8.
Pete Hegseth, as I said, the lowest of the low, Enten declared, emphasizing the consistency of the negative numbers. Twenty-two points underwater, and this has been something thats been going on throughout the entire administration. He has been underwater in every single poll that I could find. That is his job disapproval rating being above his job approval rating, and Iran has not helped.
Enten then drew a historical comparison to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, whose net approval rating was -7 on the eve of the 2006 midterms, when Republicans suffered heavy losses. Rumsfeld, he reminded viewers, resigned shortly after that electoral setback.
This is historically low because Donald Rumsfeld, who wasnt exactly smelling the roses, he was seven points underwater, Enten said, stressing how much worse Hegseths standing appears. Again, a net popularity rating in the negative, underwater, but still 15 points better than Pete Hegseth. And why is this comparison in my mind so much? Its because, remember, Don Rumsfeld was essentially forced to resign after those midterm elections, after Republicans got crushed. And I think theres some question if the midterms go the way that a lot of folks think they might go, will Donald Trumps tune on this gentleman right here perhaps change a little bit? Well, well have to wait and see.
CNN anchor John Berman pressed Enten on how Hegseths numbers stack up against other cabinet officials who were removed during Trumps second term, a period marked by intense media scrutiny and partisan warfare. Enten responded that former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Pam Bondi posted net ratings of -16 and -20, respectively, meaning that even on their way out they were less unpopular than Hegseth is now.
There are definitely red lights flashing in the polls when it comes to Pete Hegseths job security, Enten concluded, suggesting that if the midterms break against Republicans, pressure from the political class and media establishment could intensify calls for a shake-up. For conservatives who see Hegseth as a loyal defender of the Presidents agenda rather than a liability, the real test may be whether Trump prioritizes polling narratives or his own instincts in deciding who remains in his inner circle.
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