• Faith: Christian
• Career: Politician
• Birthday:  June 06, 1980

Pete Hegseth was appointed as the United States Secretary of Defense in January 2025. He is a former Army National Guard officer, author, and television presenter. In college, he studied at Princeton University and published for the conservative newspaper, the Princeton Tory.

In the 2000s, Hegseth served at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving Iraq, he worked for Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America and was a Fox News contributor in 2014. For his military service, Hegseth has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, and the Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal.

Pete Hegseth became a regular Fox News contributor in 2014 and later co-hosted Fox & Friends Weekend starting in 2017. His on-air commentary reportedly influenced former President Trump’s policy decisions, including border security and military pardons. Hegseth was also involved in legal controversies, including a lawsuit after accidentally injuring a drummer during a live event. He hosted multiple Fox Nation programs, including The Miseducation of America and The Life of Jesus, focusing on education and religious topics.

Hegseth was an advisor to President Donald J. Trump in his first term in 2016 and then was named Secretary of Defense in his second term in 2025. His appointment was confirmed by the Senate on January 24 in a 50-50 vote, with Vice President J.D. Vance delivering the tie-breaking vote. He is the second youngest to serve in the position after Donald Rumsfeld. During his confirmation process, Hegseth confirmed his support for Israel in their war against Hamas and in securing the US/Mexico border.

Hegseth has been married three times, which became a subject of discussion during his confirmation hearings.

In 2004, Hegseth married Meredith Schwarz, a Forest Lake Area High School graduate, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota. Their classmates had voted them "most likely to marry." Schwarz filed for divorce in December 2008 after Hegseth admitted to multiple affairs. He had been in a relationship with Samantha Deering, whom he met at Vets for Freedom. Hegseth and Deering married in 2010 and had three children before filing for divorce in 2017. In 2019, he married Jennifer Rauchet, a Fox & Friends producer, at Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck in New Jersey, with the Trump family in attendance.

Is Pete Hegseth Religious?

Pete Hegseth is a devout Christian. He faced allegations of harassment and criticism during his confirmation hearing and responded by proclaiming his faith in Jesus Christ: "All glory, regardless of the outcome, belongs to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His grace and mercy abound each day. May His will be done."

Pete and Jenny attended the Colts Neck Community Church in New Jersey. Of the impact this had on his life, he told Nashville Christian Family, "About 2018, I entered the Colts Neck Community Church with my wife (who was wary of what evangelical Baptists were like), and faith became real. Within 20 minutes, we felt at home. The pastor spoke about his broken family past—I'm broken, you're broken, we're all broken and careening around not living our faith and not being deeply rooted. I thought I had to be perfect. Let's be candid about it: Seek Christ, fully submit to Him, and allow Him Kingship in life! God's perfect law of liberty that sets me free is Jesus—not perfection, legalism, or anything else."

Hegseth said, "Being a dad is the most important job I have. I internalize it every day. As a man, I have the privilege of teaching my kids right vs wrong and love for the Lord. Let's pause & say thanks to the men who are good dads."