From Fox News Host To Secretary Of Defense: A Deep Dive Into Pete Hegseth's Three Wives And Blended Family Of Seven

Pete Hegseth’s personal life, marked by three high-profile marriages and a growing blended family, has been as dynamic and public as his career transition from a decorated Army National Guard officer and Fox News host to the 29th United States Secretary of Defense. As of today, December 10, 2025, the spotlight on his family life—particularly his current marriage to Jennifer Rauchet—is more intense than ever following his Senate confirmation to the Pentagon.

This article provides the most current and comprehensive look at the women who have been central to Hegseth's life, detailing the circumstances of his three marriages and the complex structure of his large family, which now includes seven children living in Middle Tennessee. The journey from his first marriage to his high school sweetheart to his current union with a former Fox News colleague is a compelling story of ambition, controversy, and family commitment.

Pete Hegseth: A Complete Biographical Profile

Peter Brian Hegseth has led a multi-faceted career that spans military service, media, and high-level government. His biography is a testament to a life lived intensely in the public eye.

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• Full Name: Peter Brian Hegseth
• Date of Birth: June 6, 1980
• Place of Birth: Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Education: Princeton University (B.A. in Politics, 2003); Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government (M.P.A., 2013)
• Military Service: U.S. Army National Guard (2003–present). Served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Guantanamo Bay. Holds the rank of Major.
• Key Career Milestones:
  • Executive Director of Vets for Freedom (2007–2012)
  • CEO of Concerned Veterans for America (2012–2016)
  • Fox News Channel Contributor/Host (2014–2024), co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend.
  • Current Role: 29th United States Secretary of Defense (Confirmed on January 24, 2025)
• Marriages: Three (Meredith Schwarz, Samantha Deering, Jennifer Rauchet)
• Children: Seven (blended family)

The First Chapter: Meredith Schwarz (2004–2009)

Hegseth’s first marriage was to his high school sweetheart, Meredith Schwarz. Their relationship began in Minnesota and culminated in a wedding in 2004, shortly after his graduation from Princeton University and commissioning into the Army National Guard.

The marriage, however, was relatively short-lived. The couple divorced in 2009. Reports suggest the separation was tumultuous, with some sources claiming Hegseth admitted to multiple infidelities during this period, leading to the dissolution of their union.

Meredith Schwarz has largely remained out of the public eye since the divorce. The end of this first marriage marked the beginning of a pattern of public scrutiny regarding Hegseth’s personal life and relationship choices, a pattern that would intensify with his subsequent marriages.

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The Second Marriage and Public Controversy: Samantha Deering (2010–2018)

Hegseth met his second wife, Samantha Deering, while working in Washington, D.C. at the veterans advocacy group Vets for Freedom. They married in 2010 and their relationship was highly visible as Hegseth’s profile began to rise in conservative media and veterans’ advocacy circles.

A Stance on Marriage and the Reality of Divorce

During their marriage, Hegseth often spoke publicly and wrote about the importance of traditional family values. Ironically, in his 2016 book, In the Arena, he advocated for the conservative movement to focus on the sanctity of marriage as a means to lower divorce rates, a detail that later became a point of public controversy.

The marriage came to a dramatic end when Hegseth began an affair with Jennifer Rauchet, a Fox News executive producer. The affair became public knowledge when Rauchet gave birth to Hegseth's daughter in August 2017, while he was still legally married to Samantha Deering.

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Samantha Deering filed for divorce in September 2017, just one month after the birth of his child with Rauchet. They share three sons from their seven-year marriage. The divorce was finalized in July 2018, paving the way for his third and current marriage.

Jennifer Rauchet: The Current Secretary of Defense’s Wife (2019–Present)

Pete Hegseth is currently married to Jennifer Rauchet, who is now known as Jennifer Hegseth. Their relationship began while they both worked at Fox News, where Rauchet was an executive producer for shows like Watters’ World and Fox & Friends.

The couple married in August 2019 in a high-profile ceremony at the Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey. The nuptials were attended by several prominent political figures, including then-President Donald Trump.

A Large and Complex Blended Family

The Hegseth family is a large, modern blended unit. Together, Pete and Jennifer share one daughter, born in 2017. However, the total number of children in their household is seven.

This number includes Pete's three sons from his marriage to Samantha Deering and Jennifer's three children from a previous relationship. The couple frequently shares glimpses of their life in Middle Tennessee on social media, emphasizing their shared values of faith, family, and patriotism.

As the wife of the new Secretary of Defense, Jennifer Hegseth's role has become subject to increased public and governmental scrutiny. Reports have emerged detailing her "near constant presence" at the Pentagon, a situation that has reportedly caused some internal friction regarding protocol and access. This unique and hands-on involvement further solidifies her central role in Hegseth's life and career, marking a new chapter for the family in Washington D.C.

Topical Authority: The Impact of a Secretary of Defense’s Personal Life

The personal life of a high-ranking government official, especially the Secretary of Defense, carries significant topical authority. Pete Hegseth's journey from a conservative media personality to a key Pentagon leader is inextricably linked to his public image and family structure.

The transparency—or lack thereof—in his previous marriages has been used by critics to question his judgment, while supporters view his current, large blended family as a reflection of his commitment to traditional American values. Entities like the Department of Defense, Princeton University, and the U.S. Army National Guard are all part of the narrative that has culminated in his confirmation to one of the most powerful positions in the United States government. His three wives—Meredith Schwarz, Samantha Deering, and Jennifer Rauchet—represent distinct phases of a life that has consistently been under the intense scrutiny of the media and the political establishment.