Pete Hegseth is married. Yeah, he’s currently on his third marriage, and honestly, if you’ve followed his career from the Ivy League to the Pentagon, you know his personal life has been just as high-octane as his politics. He’s currently married to Jennifer Rauchet, a former Fox News executive producer. They tied the knot in August 2019.
The ceremony wasn’t exactly a low-key backyard BBQ. It went down at the Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey. They even rocked "Make Weddings Great Again" hats. It’s a whole thing.
But it’s not just a "husband and wife" story. It’s a massive blended family situation. Together, they are raising seven kids. Seven. That’s a lot of schedules to manage, especially when you’re the United States Secretary of Defense.
The Current Chapter: Pete and Jennifer Rauchet
So, who is she? Jennifer Rauchet isn't just a "plus one." She spent years behind the scenes at Fox News, specifically working on Fox & Friends, which is where she and Pete first crossed paths.
Their relationship actually started while Pete was still legally married to his second wife. That caused a fair amount of tabloid friction at the time. They welcomed their daughter, Gwendolyn, in August 2017. Since then, they've been pretty much inseparable.
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Recently, Jennifer has been more than just a supportive spouse in the background. In early 2025, reports surfaced that she was attending high-level meetings at the Pentagon. We're talking meetings with foreign defense officials, like the UK Secretary of State for Defence. This raised a lot of eyebrows in D.C. because she doesn't hold an official government role or, reportedly, a high-level security clearance.
Staffers at the Pentagon even reportedly gave her the nickname "Yoko Ono" because of how much she’s involved in Pete’s day-to-day operations. Some say she’s there to help manage his public image; others suggest she’s a stabilizing force for him. Whatever the reason, she is a central figure in his current life as a cabinet member.
A Look Back: The Previous Marriages
Pete’s road to his current marriage wasn't a straight line. It’s been a bit of a journey, starting way back in 2004.
- Meredith Schwarz (2004–2009): Pete married his high school sweetheart, Meredith, right after he graduated from Princeton. This was during his early military days. They were together for about five years, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2009.
- Samantha Deering (2010–2017): Not long after his first divorce, Pete married Samantha Deering. They met while working for Vets for Freedom. This marriage lasted seven years and produced three sons: Gunner, Boone, and Rex.
The end of the marriage with Samantha was messy. She filed for divorce in September 2017, just about a month after Pete’s daughter with Jennifer was born. During his confirmation hearings for Secretary of Defense in late 2024 and early 2025, some old allegations resurfaced regarding this period of his life, but Pete has consistently denied any claims of physical abuse, and court documents from their divorce show both parties agreed neither was a victim of domestic violence.
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The "Hegseth Clan": Seven Kids and No "Steps"
If you ask Pete about his kids, he’ll probably correct you if you use the word "stepchild." He’s very public about the fact that he rejects those labels.
The breakdown of the seven kids looks like this:
- Three sons from his marriage to Samantha.
- Three children Jennifer brought from her previous marriage.
- One daughter, Gwendolyn, whom they share.
They live in Middle Tennessee now, and Pete often talks about the importance of "Faith, Family, and Freedom." All seven kids were there at the White House on January 25, 2025, when he was sworn in by Vice President JD Vance. It was quite the scene—a massive group of kids roaming the halls of power.
Why People Keep Asking About His Status
The reason "is Pete Hegseth married" stays trending isn't just about celebrity gossip. It’s because his family life is deeply intertwined with his political identity. He’s positioned himself as a champion of traditional fatherhood and Christian values.
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However, his history of multiple marriages and the "Signalgate" controversy (where Jennifer was reportedly part of a private encrypted chat group discussing military strikes in Yemen) makes people curious about how his personal life affects his public duty.
He’s a man who clearly relies on his wife as a "rock." Whether that’s a professional liability or a personal asset is the debate currently rocking the Pentagon.
Actionable Insights for Following This Story:
- Watch the Security Clearance Updates: Keep an eye on whether Jennifer Rauchet eventually receives official security clearance. This will determine if her presence at the Pentagon becomes "official" or stays a point of contention.
- Follow Official Briefings: Since "Signalgate," the Department of Defense has been tighter with press policies. Look for official transcripts from the Pentagon rather than just social media posts if you want the full context of his current work.
- Check Social Media Context: If you follow Pete or Jennifer on Instagram, remember that those posts are curated for a specific "family values" brand. Contrast those with investigative reporting from the Wall Street Journal or The Guardian for a balanced view of their influence in Washington.
Pete Hegseth’s marital status is clearly "Married," but the role his wife plays in the U.S. government is a story that is still being written every day.