Pete Hegseth's Wife, Jennifer, Plots His Dramatic New Power Grab

Photo Illustration by Victoria Sunday/The Daily Beast/Getty Images/Reuters Pete Hegseth is considering a presidential campaign—and his wife has been floating the idea, too.

Pete, 46, and Jennifer, 49, are under the impression that some of the Defense Secretary’s characteristics overlap with President Donald Trump’s, and could therefore be an asset in a 2028 presidential campaign, NBC News reported Friday.

Pete has apparently told close friends and associates about the idea.

Trump, 80, is constitutionally term-limited.

Jennifer has had an uncharacteristically involved role in her husband’s job.

The New York Times, citing 20 current and former administration officials and sources close to her, reported that she is his most influential adviser.

Jennifer has not only sat in on meetings with reporters and prepared Pete for appearances, but has reportedly also interviewed Defense Department job candidates and suggested ideas for department videos.

According to the Times, Jennifer has also been a fixture at the Pentagon amid concerns about Pete’s drinking.

The former Fox News anchor’s past drinking nearly doomed his confirmation, as did his November 2024 claim that women shouldn’t have combat roles in the military.

Jennifer is Pete’s third wife.

They began an affair—while each was married—in 2016, when they were working at Fox News.

Jennifer was an executive producer at the right-wing network, and Pete was a Fox and Friends co-host.

They divorced their respective spouses in 2017, and married in 2019.

Hegseth has attributed the positive changes in his life to “two Js”: Jennifer and Jesus.