Pete Hegseth | |
|---|---|
 Hegseth in 2021 | |
| United States Secretary of Defense Presumptive nominee | |
| Assuming office TBD | |
| Appointed by | Donald Trump |
| Succeeding | Lloyd Austin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Peter Brian Hegseth June 6, 1980 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouses |
|
| Children | 7 |
| Education | |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 2003–2014, 2019–2021 |
| Rank | Major |
| Unit | Minnesota Army National Guard |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Peter Brian Hegseth (/ˈhɛɡsɛθ/; born June 6, 1980) is an American television presenter, author, and former Army National Guard officer who has been announced as the forthcoming nominee for United States Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump's second cabinet. A political commentator for Fox News since 2014 and weekend co-host of Fox & Friends from 2017 to 2024, he was previously the executive director of Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America.
Hegseth has been active in conservative and Republican politics since his undergraduate days at Princeton University. In 2016, he emerged as a supporter of Donald Trump's presidential candidacy and served as an occasional advisor to Trump throughout the latter's first term as president. Hegseth was considered to lead the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in the first Trump administration, but David Shulkin was tapped instead. In November 2024, President-elect Trump announced that he intended to nominate Hegseth as Defense Secretary.