Washington DC - President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is not considering firing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Asked about the possibility a day after his Republicans suffered a crushing defeat in the midterm elections, Trump told reporters: "No, I think he's doing a very good job."

CBS News had previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Trump had asked advisers after the election defeat whether Hegseth should remain in his post.

The war against Iran, launched by Trump alongside Israel, was a major liability for Republicans during the election campaign.

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Rising fuel prices in the war's wake were among the main concerns of voters ahead of the polls.

Alongside Trump, Hegseth is one of the most prominent figures in the administration associated with the unpopular war.

Hegseth has also been under scrutiny for some time as a possible target of impeachment proceedings, which Democrats could initiate now that they have secured a new majority in the House of Representatives.