WASHINGTON, D.C. — US President Donald Trump is facing mounting pressure to overhaul his administration following a major Republican defeat in the November 3 midterm elections, with senior White House officials reportedly discussing possible dismissals and resignations.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, Trump watched election results from the White House’s private residence alongside Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and aide Natalie Harp, while other administration officials gathered in the East Room.

The report, citing unnamed White House sources, described a tense atmosphere as Democratic victories became apparent, with several senior officials reportedly leaving the gathering before the night ended.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who had attended the election watch party earlier in the evening, was among the officials whom the Daily Mail said could not be found later.

Trump reportedly reacted angrily to the election results, blaming Fox News and Texas Governor Greg Abbott in posts on his Truth Social platform.

The president also reportedly argued that Republicans would have won by a landslide had he personally been on the ballot, despite having encouraged supporters to treat the midterms as a test of his leadership.

Iran war and foreign policy under scrutiny

The Daily Mail report indicates that some administration officials believe the US war in Iran contributed to the Republican losses, raising questions about the political consequences of Trump's foreign policy.

Unnamed officials reportedly identified Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as possible targets of Trump's anger, with some suggesting that the president could hold members of his national security team accountable for the electoral outcome.

The report also quoted a Republican operative who attributed the party's defeat to its approach to the Iran conflict.

However, no formal decision to dismiss Rubio or Hegseth was confirmed in the report.

Susie Wiles faces renewed scrutiny

Wiles, who managed Trump's successful 2024 presidential campaign before becoming his chief of staff, is also reportedly facing pressure from some administration officials following the Republican defeat.

The Daily Mail said some officials had questioned the political operation's confidence in securing a strong midterm performance, with one source describing the administration's expectations as unrealistic.

The report also suggested that Wiles' extensive influence across the White House, Republican Party leadership and campaign organisations could complicate any effort to remove individual officials without affecting the broader administration.

Trump had previously dismissed speculation about Wiles' future, publicly expressing confidence in her leadership.

Possible changes remain unconfirmed

The reported discussions come amid broader concerns about the direction of Trump's administration following the Republican losses.

The Daily Mail said some officials were already discussing possible personnel changes, including the prospect of Wiles leaving her position and Rubio potentially being replaced.

However, the report did not establish that Trump had approved a purge or that any of the officials named were preparing to resign.

The White House had not publicly announced any dismissals or changes to its senior leadership in connection with the election results at the time of the report.

The coming days are expected to provide a clearer indication of whether Trump will respond to the Republican defeat with changes to his administration or maintain his current leadership team.