Pete Hegseth isn't exactly a quiet guy. Whether he’s on your TV screen or running the Pentagon, the man makes headlines. But behind the scenes, there's a pretty massive family life that most people only catch in snippets on Instagram. Honestly, it’s a lot to keep track of.
If you’re wondering how many children Pete Hegseth have, the answer is seven. Well, sort of. It depends on how you define "have," but in the Hegseth household, they don't do "halves" or "steps."
It’s a blended family of nine. That includes Pete, his wife Jennifer Rauchet, and a pack of seven kids who seem to go everywhere together. From the sidelines of football games to the halls of the White House during his swearing-in as Secretary of Defense in January 2025, the "Hegseth clan" is a constant presence.
Breaking Down the Numbers: Four Biological, Three "Bonus"
Let’s get into the weeds of the family tree because it's not a straight line. Pete has four biological children. Three of them—all boys—come from his second marriage to Samantha Deering.
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- Gunner: The oldest, born in June 2010.
- Boone (Peter Boone): Born in August 2012. He actually made news on his own recently for winning a class president election.
- Rex: The youngest son, born in October 2015.
Then there’s Gwendolyn. She’s Pete’s only biological daughter, born in August 2017. Her arrival was... a bit of a scandal at the time. She was born while Pete was still legally married to Samantha, but he was already with Jennifer Rauchet, who was a producer at Fox News.
Jennifer brought three of her own children into the mix from a previous marriage. While some people might call them stepchildren, Pete has been very vocal about rejecting that label. In an interview with Birmingham Christian Family, he basically said they are a family brought together by grace and he doesn't use the word "step."
The Move to Tennessee and the "War" Office
Life for the seven kids changed pretty drastically in 2022. The family packed up and left the Northeast for Middle Tennessee. They wanted a specific kind of environment—specifically a private Christian academy for the kids.
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Fast forward to 2025, and the stakes got even higher. When Pete was confirmed as Secretary of Defense (now often referred to as the Secretary of War following a 2025 executive order), all seven children were right there. It was a chaotic scene, honestly. You've probably seen the video—Pete even fumbled over one of the kids' names for a split second during a press moment, laughing it off because, as he put it, "it's a lot of them."
Why People Are Talking About the Hegseth Family Now
It’s not just about cute family photos anymore. As of 2026, the family has been under a different kind of spotlight. There was the "Signalgate" situation where reports surfaced that Pete had included Jennifer in a Signal group chat discussing military matters.
There have also been reports of Jennifer attending high-level meetings with foreign officials. Whether you agree with that or not, it shows how intertwined his family life is with his professional role. They aren't just kids sitting at home; they are part of the "Hegseth brand."
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What Most People Get Wrong
People often assume all seven kids are his biological children. They aren't. But if you ask Pete, he’ll tell you he has seven kids, period. He treats the household as one unit.
It’s also easy to miss how much his past marriages influenced the current family dynamic. His first marriage to Meredith Schwarz didn't result in any children, but it ended amidst reports of infidelity—a pattern that some critics still bring up today.
Despite the controversies and the messy history, the family seems incredibly tight-knit. They’re often seen at sports games or traveling together. It's a loud, busy, and very public life.
Key Takeaways for Following the Hegseth Family:
- The Count: 7 total children live in the household.
- The Split: 4 biological children, 3 from Jennifer's previous marriage.
- The Location: They are based in Tennessee, though they spend plenty of time in D.C.
- The Philosophy: Pete explicitly rejects the "stepfather" title in favor of a unified family identity.
If you want to keep up with them, Jennifer’s Instagram is usually the best bet for the most current "blended family" updates. Just be prepared for a lot of flag-waving and football photos.