Republican losses in the Nov. 3 congressional elections could prompt departures across President Donald Trump's administration, CNN reported, as aides compete for influence ahead of the vote.
Officials and allies cited by CNN fear the most extensive dismissals if Democrats win both the House and Senate. The network described advisers seeking closer ties to Trump and trying to assign blame before the results are known.
People who had spoken with Trump saw no overt indication that he planned personnel changes after the election, CNN reported.
CNN's sources raised different possibilities for two senior officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could face pressure to leave, while Energy Secretary Chris Wright might choose to depart. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth was not focused on the speculation. An Energy Department spokesperson told CNN that Wright did not plan to leave.
White House spokesman Davis Ingle called speculation about internal rivalries baseless and said Trump was focused on keeping Republican majorities in Congress.
The report follows questions about White House hiring authority that arose around Trump's appointment of Katie Zacharia as press secretary. CNN said some advisers questioned the standing of White House chief of staff Susie Wiles because she was absent when Trump offered Zacharia the job. Those questions continued after Zacharia's five-day tenure ended Oct. 16.
CNN noted that turnover after midterm elections is customary. Trump had four White House chiefs of staff during his first term, none of whom served two years, the network reported.
At a White House event Oct. 20, Trump said presidents usually lose midterm elections but argued that his supporters could deliver a Republican victory if they turned out. The congressional elections are scheduled for Nov. 3.
