Pete Hegseth Wife: Jennifer Rauchet’s Education, Professional Career and Life in Washington

Pete Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet, has attracted growing public attention as her husband continues serving as the United States Secretary of Defense. A former television producer with nearly two decades of experience in broadcast media, Jennifer has taken on a more visible role in Washington. Her appointment to lead the President’s Military Spouse Commission in August 2026 brought renewed interest in her career, marriage and family life.

Pete Hegseth married Jennifer Rauchet in August 2019 at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. She is his third wife, and the couple shares a daughter named Gwendolyn. Together, they have a blended family of seven children, including three sons from Hegseth’s previous marriage and three children from Jennifer’s earlier relationship.

Who Is Pete Hegseth’s Wife Jennifer Rauchet?

Jennifer Rauchet, also known as Jennifer Hegseth, is a former television producer who spent much of her professional career working at Fox News.

She grew up in a family that moved between Florida and Maryland because of her father’s career. She later studied journalism at Towson University in Maryland before entering the television industry.

Jennifer began working as a producer at WPIX in New York in 2001. She joined Fox News in 2006 and eventually became an executive producer on Fox & Friends, one of the network’s most recognizable morning programs.

Her responsibilities included coordinating television segments, overseeing production decisions and managing the demanding schedule of a national news broadcast.

She later worked with Fox Nation, the network’s subscription streaming platform, and helped produce programming focused on education and politics.

Jennifer’s television career established her professional reputation before her marriage to Hegseth brought her greater public recognition.

How Did Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Rauchet Meet?

Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Rauchet met while working at Fox News.

Hegseth joined the network as a contributor in 2014 and later became a regular co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend. Jennifer was already an established producer at the company.

Their relationship developed while both were married to other people. Hegseth was married to Samantha Deering, while Jennifer was married to real estate developer Dennis Rauchet.

Their relationship became public before their previous marriages had ended.

In August 2017, Jennifer welcomed their daughter, Gwendolyn. Samantha subsequently filed for divorce, which was finalized in 2018.

Pete and Jennifer married in August 2019 at Trump National Golf Club in Colts Neck, New Jersey.

President Donald Trump attended the wedding, along with other prominent figures associated with conservative politics and television.

The marriage marked a new chapter for both, bringing together children from their previous relationships.

Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Rauchet’s Seven Children

Pete Hegseth and Jennifer Rauchet have seven children in their blended family.

Hegseth has three sons from his marriage to Samantha Deering: Gunner, Peter Boone and Rex Hegseth.

Gunner was born in June 2010, Peter Boone in August 2012 and Rex in October 2015.

Jennifer has three children from her previous marriage: Kenzie, Jackson and Luke.

Their daughter, Gwendolyn Hegseth, was born in August 2017 and is the couple’s only biological child together.

Both parents have spoken about their commitment to raising the children with shared religious and family values.

The family moved to Tennessee in 2022, where they established a home outside Nashville.

Jennifer has also discussed her involvement in homeschooling and Christian education, including the use of a structured classical curriculum.

Although the family occasionally appears together at public events, much of the children’s everyday lives remains private.

Jennifer Hegseth’s Role at the Pentagon

Jennifer’s public responsibilities expanded after Pete Hegseth became Secretary of Defense in January 2025.

She attended his swearing-in ceremony alongside their children and subsequently accompanied him to several official events.

Her involvement attracted attention because she had previously worked closely with him in television production and remained an influential adviser.

In 2025, questions arose about her inclusion in a Signal messaging group that reportedly contained information about planned military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen.

The controversy prompted scrutiny of how sensitive information was being handled and the extent of her involvement in defense-related discussions.

In August 2026, Jennifer was appointed chair of the President’s Military Spouse Commission.

The unpaid position focuses on issues affecting military families, including employment, education and support for spouses whose partners serve in the armed forces.

Her appointment represented a significant change from her earlier career in television, placing her in a formal public-facing role connected to military family advocacy.

Pete Hegseth’s Previous Wives and Marriage History

Pete Hegseth has been married three times.

His first wife was Meredith Schwarz, whom he married in 2004. Their marriage ended in divorce in 2009, and they did not have children together.

He married his second wife, Samantha Deering, in 2010.

The couple welcomed three sons before their relationship ended. Their divorce was finalized in 2018.

Hegseth subsequently married Jennifer Rauchet in 2019.

Jennifer also had a previous marriage to Dennis Rauchet, with whom she shares three children.

Their combined family includes seven children, although Hegseth’s three sons from his second marriage primarily reside with their mother in Minnesota under the family’s custody arrangements.

Jennifer and Pete have continued to appear together at official ceremonies and public events while maintaining their family home in Tennessee.

For readers searching for Pete Hegseth’s wife, Jennifer Rauchet is his third spouse, a former Fox News producer and the mother of his daughter Gwendolyn. Married since August 2019, the couple shares a blended family of seven children. Jennifer’s appointment to lead the President’s Military Spouse Commission has also established her own public role alongside her husband’s government career.