Two years ago, Pete Hegseth relocated his family from New Jersey, near the Fox News headquarters, to a small town outside Nashville, Tennessee. The move to a conservative-leaning area fit the “Fox & Friends” co-host's lifestyle, as he often shares photos of family shooting excursions, posts with anti-Biden slogans, and openly discusses his Christian faith.
Now, with President-elect Donald Trump selecting him as Defense Secretary, Hegseth, his wife, and their seven children may need to move again—this time to Washington, DC. The news, announced by Trump on Tuesday evening, surprised even some at Fox.
Although Hegseth is a decorated Army veteran with service in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, his background lacks experience in overseeing large organizations. As one Fox colleague expressed in disbelief, “You're telling me Pete is going to oversee two million employees?” The Department of Defense, which employs close to three million people, highlights the scope of his new role. However, Hegseth's appeal lies in another quality Trump values: his media star-power.
Hegseth has been a "Fox & Friends Weekend" co-host for nearly a decade, where he's openly criticized what he calls the "woke" direction of the Pentagon. In his bestselling book this year, he condemned “warped, woke and caustic policies” for weakening the military. Trump's sentiments mirrored Hegseth's in a Fox interview, where Hegseth agreed, saying, “he's exactly right.”
A fixture on Fox since he was hired as a contributor in 2014, Hegseth's rise within the network was marked by both his military insights and, at times, personal drama. During his tenure, his relationship with Fox producer Jennifer Rauchet became public, leading to a marriage in 2019 at Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck, New Jersey. The couple shares a blended family of seven children and a commitment to conservative values, which Hegseth attributes to “the grace of God.”
Hegseth's perspectives on the military were shaped by his experiences during the post-9/11 era. As a Princeton University student, he defended military action and later deployed to Guantanamo Bay and Iraq. Following his military service, he became involved in veterans' advocacy and briefly ran for Senate in Minnesota, only to find his calling in television.
Since joining Fox, Hegseth has become a media mainstay, hosting the annual “Patriot Awards” and contributing to special events like Fox's election night coverage. Known for his unwavering support of Trump, Hegseth would sometimes check if Trump had reacted to his on-air remarks, tailoring his commentary for his “viewer-in-chief.”
In 2018, Hegseth was considered for the role of head of Veterans Affairs, a position that did not materialize. Yet, his influence continued to grow, and in 2020, he authored *Modern Warriors* followed by *War on Warriors*, in which he condemns military "social justice" initiatives.
With Trump's announcement, Hegseth's future at Fox is now uncertain as he prepares to take on his role at the Pentagon. Fox wished him well, acknowledging the strong connection he had with their audience. Hegseth, whose dedication has been a hallmark of his career, is prepared to channel this work ethic into his new position, as he recently told podcast host Jack Carr: “You just do the work. Build the plan, work the plan.”
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