U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has selected Pete Hegseth as his Secretary of Defense. This has prompted people to wonder who he is and why Trump chose him. Trump’s decision comes after he won the 2024 U.S. elections as the Republican nominee, having received more electoral college votes than his Democratic opponent, incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris.
Here is everything to know about Pete Hegseth.
Who is Pete Hegseth?
Born in Minnesota, on June 6, 1980, Hegseth grew up near the city of Forest Lake. He graduated from Princeton University and earned a Master of Public Policy degree from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
Hegseth has previously served in the Minnesota Army National Guard and holds the rank of major. He served in places like Iraq and Afghanistan and at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Additionally, he has been part of Conservative activism for years and ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat in Minnesota in 2012. He became a contributor on Fox News in 2014 and has served as a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend and several shows on Fox Nation.
Hegseth has been married three times. His first wife is Meredith Schwarz. A year after their divorce in 2009, Hegseth tied the wedding knot with Samantha Deering, with whom he shares three children. He and Deering parted ways in 2017, and the former and Fox executive producer Jennifer Rauchet got married in 2019.
Hegseth has been on Trump’s radar for a long time and was in consideration to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs during Trump’s last presidency. He has published books, volunteered for combat, and advocated for veterans. However, his selection as Trump’s Defense Secretary came as a surprise for many.
Speaking about him, Trump said in a statement, “Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First.” “With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — our military will be great again, and America will never back down,” he added. (via The New York Times)
Trump is scheduled to take office in January 2025.