Pete Hegseth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pete Hegseth
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025
|
|
| 29th United States Secretary of Defense | |
| Assumed office January 25, 2025 |
|
| President | Donald Trump |
| Deputy | Steve Feinberg |
| Preceded by | Lloyd Austin |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Peter Brian Hegseth
June 6, 1980 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 4 |
| Education |
|
| Signature |  |
| Website | Official website: https://www.defense.gov/About/Secretary-of-Defense/ |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |
|
| Years of service |
|
| Rank | Major |
| Unit |
|
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
|
Peter Brian Hegseth (born June 6, 1980) is an American author, former television presenter, and former Army National Guard officer. He became the 29th United States secretary of defense in 2025.
Hegseth studied politics at Princeton University. He was also involved with The Princeton Tory, a conservative student newspaper. In 2003, he became an infantry officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He served at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. After his military service, Hegseth worked for several organizations, including Vets For Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. He joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014. From 2017 to 2024, Hegseth was a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend. He has also written several books, such as American Crusade (2020) and The War on Warriors (2024).
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump chose Hegseth to be his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate that month. Vice President JD Vance cast a tie-breaking vote, which was a rare event in U.S. history for a Cabinet nominee. Hegseth is the second-youngest Secretary of Defense ever and the first person from Minnesota to hold the position.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Peter Brian Hegseth was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family has Norwegian roots. He was the first child of Brian and Penelope "Penny" Hegseth. Brian was a high school basketball coach, and Penny is a business coach. Hegseth grew up in Forest Lake, Minnesota, and graduated from Forest Lake Area High School in 1999 as the top student. He played football and basketball, setting school records in basketball.
In 1999, Hegseth started at Princeton University, where he studied politics. He chose Princeton for its basketball program over an offer from the United States Military Academy. Before the September 11 attacks, Hegseth joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. He played basketball for Princeton and was involved with The Princeton Tory, a conservative student newspaper. He later earned a degree in public policy from Harvard Kennedy School.
Military Service
After graduating from Princeton in June 2003, Hegseth became a second lieutenant in the United States Army through the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He worked briefly as an analyst before completing his basic training in 2004. For eleven months, he served in the Minnesota Army National Guard at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. He led a group of soldiers guarding detainees there.
By July 2005, he volunteered to serve in the Iraq War as an infantry officer. He earned a Bronze Star Medal for his service. Hegseth was part of the 101st Airborne Division. He started his tour in Baghdad and then moved to Samarra, where he worked as a civil affairs officer. He helped work with the city council. Hegseth has shared that a rocket-propelled grenade once hit his vehicle in Iraq but did not explode.
In 2011, Hegseth became a captain in the Minnesota Army National Guard. He volunteered to teach at the Counterinsurgency Training Center in Kabul, Afghanistan, for eight months. This was during the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. After his tour in 2014, he was promoted to major. He later joined the District of Columbia Army National Guard in June 2019 and served until March 2021. He was not allowed to serve at the inauguration of Joe Biden due to concerns raised by another guardsman. He left the Individual Ready Reserve in January 2024.
Political Involvement
By August 2006, Hegseth began working with Vets for Freedom, a group that supports veterans. He became the executive director and later the president of the organization. Vets for Freedom supported John McCain's presidential campaign in 2008. Hegseth criticized Barack Obama's ideas about withdrawing troops.
In February 2012, Hegseth considered running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota. He raised money for his campaign but was defeated in the Republican convention. He then founded MN PAC to support other candidates. Hegseth also worked for Concerned Veterans of America, a group that criticized the Obama administration's handling of veterans' healthcare.
In December 2016, President-elect Donald Trump considered Hegseth for Secretary of Veterans Affairs. However, some veterans' groups had concerns about his lack of experience in managing a large organization. Trump later chose David Shulkin for the role.
Fox News Career
.jpg)
In June 2014, Hegseth became a regular contributor to Fox News. In 2016, he started regularly hosting Fox & Friends Weekend, becoming an official co-host in January 2017. He also served as a temporary host for Laura Ingraham on The Ingraham Angle. Hegseth co-hosted All-American New Year (2018) with commentator Lisa Kennedy.
Hegseth's opinions on Fox & Friends sometimes influenced President Trump's decisions. For example, Trump once mentioned "unknown Middle Easterners" in a migrant caravan, which Hegseth had discussed on the show. Hegseth also urged Trump not to agree to a government funding deal that did not include money for a border wall.
Hegseth was also featured on Fox Nation, the network's streaming service. He hosted shows like The Miseducation of America (2022–2023), which discussed education, and series such as Battle in the Holy Land (2019–2023) and The Life of Jesus (2022–2023).
Secretary of Defense (2025–present)
Nomination and Confirmation
On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Hegseth as his choice for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth then ended his contract with Fox News. His selection was seen as a sign that Trump wanted a loyal person to lead the Department of Defense. Some officials were surprised by his limited experience in this area.
Hegseth worked to keep his nomination despite various reports. Trump's advisors encouraged him to support Hegseth. Vice President-elect JD Vance also led a group of Republicans who supported Hegseth. Hegseth appeared before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on January 14, 2025. He presented himself as a "warrior" and denied certain claims. The Committee voted to advance his nomination 14–13 along party lines on January 20.
On January 24, Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate in a 51–50 vote. All Republican senators, except for Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell, voted to confirm him. All Democratic senators opposed his nomination, resulting in a 50–50 tie. Vice President Vance cast the tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth. This was only the second time in U.S. history that a Cabinet nominee's confirmation was decided by a vice president.
Hegseth was sworn in as Secretary of Defense on January 25 by Vice President JD Vance. He outlined several goals for the Department of Defense. These included strengthening the military's spirit, rebuilding trust, improving the nation's industrial base, and defending the U.S. at home. He also aimed to engage with the Indo-Pacific region to deter China and support Trump's efforts to "end wars responsibly," including the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Middle Eastern crisis.
Initial Actions as Secretary
After being sworn in, Hegseth spoke with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He stated that the United States was "fully committed" to the security of Israel. Hegseth also made changes within the Department of Defense. He removed the security clearance of Mark Milley, a former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also ordered an investigation into Milley's time in that role. The Department of Defense Education Activity also began removing certain books.
In February, Hegseth visited the Mexico–United States border in El Paso, Texas. He stated that the government planned to gain full control of the southern border. He also renamed Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg, its original name. The base was renamed to honor Roland L. Bragg, a soldier from World War II. In a meeting with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters, Hegseth expressed views on Ukraine's NATO membership.
In February 2025, Hegseth ordered officials to reduce funding for most initiatives within the Department of Defense. He also made changes to leadership, including firing some top legal officers and the chief of naval operations. In March, he ordered U.S. Cyber Command to stop certain operations against Russia. This was seen as an effort to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukrainian War. That month, the Defense Department also canceled many research studies, including those on climate change.
In April 2025, Hegseth issued a directive to the Secretary of the Army. This directive called for a major overhaul, focusing on defending the U.S. and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific. It included plans to combine budgets for unmanned systems and electronic warfare. It also aimed to reduce or close unnecessary headquarters and merge some commands to improve efficiency. Hegseth also signed a memo to reduce the civilian workforce at the Department of Defense.
Information Sharing and Communication
In March 2025, it was reported that Jeffrey Goldberg, an editor, was accidentally included in a Signal group chat. In this chat, Hegseth shared information about attacks in Yemen before they happened. Other U.S. officials, including Vice President Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, were also in the chat. Officials at the Department of Defense were surprised by this incident. A spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed the report and the messages. Hegseth stated that no sensitive war plans were shared.
The incident caused concern for Hegseth. Goldberg later published more of the Signal chat. The chat showed Hegseth posting information like launch times for aircraft and missiles, and when they would reach their targets. Hegseth commented in the chat that the information did not include names, targets, locations, or classified details. This incident led to criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. After the Signal leak, Hegseth's personal mobile number and email address were reportedly found online.
.jpg)
It was also reported that Hegseth brought his wife to two meetings with foreign defense officials where important information was discussed. One meeting was in February in Brussels with NATO officials, and another was in March at the Pentagon with British Defense Secretary John Healey. Additionally, Hegseth's brother, Phil, was listed as a senior adviser and accompanied Hegseth to meetings and on official trips. Phil works at the Pentagon as a liaison for the Department of Homeland Security.
In April, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General announced an investigation into Hegseth's information sharing in the Signal chat. It was also reported that Hegseth had shared details about the attack in a second Signal chat with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. Hegseth suggested that these revelations were part of a planned effort to discredit him.
Despite these events, Hegseth kept the support of President Trump.
Political Views
Hegseth holds strong conservative views. In his book American Crusade (2020), Hegseth described "Americanism" as opposing movements like feminism and globalism. He has also said that victory for America means the end of globalism and socialism. He has repeated claims about election fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Hegseth initially supported Marco Rubio in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, then Ted Cruz, and finally Donald Trump. He defended Trump's policies during his first term, including his interactions with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
In 2012, Hegseth supported changes to Medicare. On Fox & Friends in 2019, Hegseth described climate change as an attempt at government control. In March 2025, he canceled climate change studies within the Department of Defense.
Foreign Policy Views
In November 2009, Hegseth supported sending more troops to Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan. He later advocated for withdrawing troops but believed special forces should remain.
Hegseth has criticized NATO and the United Nations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he called Putin a war criminal. He has also criticized U.S. military aid to Ukraine. In January 2020, he supported Donald Trump's threat to target Iranian cultural sites.
Hegseth has supported the leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. He has also stated that the Chinese government is "building a military to defeat the United States."
Military Affairs Views
In 2008, Hegseth expressed views on homosexuality in the military. In a podcast interview in November 2024, Hegseth stated that women should not serve in combat roles.
Hegseth has criticized the U.S. military for accusing soldiers of committing war crimes.
Personal Life
Marriages and Family
In 2004, Hegseth married Meredith Schwarz. They were voted "most likely to marry" by their high school class. They divorced in 2009. Hegseth then married Samantha Deering in 2010, and they had three children together. They divorced in 2017. In 2019, Hegseth married Jennifer Rauchet, a producer from Fox & Friends. The wedding was attended by the Trump family. He has four children.
Religious Beliefs
In his 2016 memoir, In the Arena, Hegseth described his Christian faith. He stated that his faith became deeper after the September 11 attacks. He and his wife, Jennifer, began attending Colts Neck Community Church in New Jersey in 2018. They later moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to send their children to a Christian school. They joined the Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship church there.
Tattoos
.jpg)
Hegseth has several tattoos. One on his right biceps reads Deus vult, a Christian phrase meaning "God wills it." He also has a tattoo of the Jerusalem cross on his right chest. Another tattoo near Deus vult reads kafir (unbeliever) in Arabic. He also has a tattoo of the political cartoon Join, or Die, a cross and sword with Hebrew lettering for Yeshua, and the words We the People on his right forearm. On his back, he has the coat of arms of the 187th Infantry Regiment with its motto, Ne Desit Virtus, meaning "Let Valor Not Fail."
Awards and Decorations
Hegseth's awards and decorations include:
 |
|||
  |
 |
 |
|
 |
  |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
.svg){kind=small} |
|
| Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||||||||
| Bronze Star Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
Joint Service Commendation Medal | Army Commendation Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster |
|||||||||
| National Defense Service Medal | Afghanistan Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars |
Iraq Campaign Medal with two bronze service stars |
|||||||||
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Armed Forces Reserve Medal | |||||||||
| Army Service Ribbon | Overseas Service Ribbon | NATO Medal | |||||||||
Hegseth also received the Expert Infantryman Badge.
Written Works
Hegseth published his memoir, In the Arena, in 2016. In May 2020, he released American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free. In November, Fox News Media made a deal to publish three books by Fox News hosts, starting with Hegseth's Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes. He co-authored Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation with David Goodwin in 2022. In June 2024, Hegseth published The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free. Several of his books, including American Crusade and The War on Warriors, have appeared on The New York Times Best Seller list. He also wrote the foreword for The Case against the Establishment (2017).
See also
In Spanish: Pete Hegseth para niños
