Amidst multiple controversies surrounding Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, his mother, Penelope “Penny” Hegseth, has publicly defended him.
Peter Brian Hegseth, born June 6, 1980, is an American television host and author.
Furthermore, he was a former Army National Guard officer.
His military service includes deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan as a National Guardsman.
He was recently announced as Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense in his second cabinet.
A prominent figure in conservative media and politics, Hegseth has served as a political commentator for Fox News since 2014.
He was also the weekend co-host of Fox & Friends from 2017 to 2024.
Previously, he led Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. Both organizations focus on veterans’ issues.
Hegseth has been active in Republican politics since his undergraduate years at Princeton University.
Hegseth, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump since his 2016 campaign, played a key role in encouraging the 2019 pardons of three soldiers accused or convicted of war crimes.
Hegseth was initially considered to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2017. However, David Shulkin was selected instead.
On November 12, 2024, Trump announced Hegseth’s nomination for Defense Secretary.
This marked a significant step in Hegseth’s career at the intersection of politics, media, and military service.
Penny Hegseth, Pete Hegseth’s Mother, Has Publicly Defended Him After Previously Slamming Him In An Email
In an interview on Fox & Friends on Wednesday (Dec. 5), she praised her son’s character. She described him as a “new person.”
Likewise, Penelope Hegseth, who appeared as her son’s guest during a 2019 Mother’s Day special on Fox News, described Pete as an “amazing son and father.”
This came after the release of a 2018 email in which she referred to him as “an abuser of women.”
Although her online presence is minimal, social media posts suggest she engages in professional coaching.
She has also participated in the Minnesota Excellence in Public Service Series, which trains Republican women for leadership roles.
In her interview, Penelope emphasized the strong faith her family shares.
She described their bond as deeply rooted in God and mutual support.
However, her 2018 email to Pete, published by The New York Times on November 29, painted a different picture.
During a contentious divorce of Pete and his second wife, Penelope wrote,
“You are an abuser of women — that is the ugly truth and I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for his own power and ego. You are that man (and have been for years) and as your mother, it pains me and embarrasses me to say that, but it is the sad, sad truth.”
Via New York Times
Reflecting on the email during her Wednesday appearance, she added,
“Pete is a new person. He’s redeemed, forgiven, changed. I think we all are after seven years. I believe he’s the man for the job.”
Via USA Today
Strengths coaching with MEPS today pic.twitter.com/c0qZh2o2X3
— Penelope Hegseth (@penelopehegseth) March 19, 2016
However, despite the controversies, Hegseth has expressed his commitment to pursuing the nomination.
Trump has maintained public support for him.
Nevertheless, according to USA TODAY, the GOP is considering Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as an alternative.
Peace comes through strength of arms and strength of values #nextPotus pic.twitter.com/dbq4NQQSLl
— Penelope Hegseth (@penelopehegseth) December 10, 2015
Hegseth, who is 44 years old, has faced serious allegations, including a 2017 accusation of sexual assault.
He insists the incident was consensual, and no charges were filed.
Additionally, The New Yorker recently reported that two nonprofits had removed Hegseth from leadership positions.
The reasons cited were alleged intoxication on the job, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement. However, Hegseth has denied these claims.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Hegseth married his first wife, Meredith Schwarz, in 2004. They separated in 2009. He married his second wife, Samantha Deering, in 2010. However, their divorce was finalized in 2018. Ultimately, he married his third wife, Jennifer Rauchet, in 2019.
- Hegseth lives in Tennessee.
- Penelope “Penny” Hegseth is married to Brian Hegseth, a basketball coach.
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