Former Fox News colleagues and associates of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have defended his wife, Jen Hegseth, after a New York Times report described her as an unusually influential and unofficial presence at the Pentagon.
Sean Duffy, a former Fox News host and current Transportation Secretary, stated on the Katie Miller Podcast that Pete Hegseth is fortunate to have his wife as a partner, calling her "really smart."
Katie Miller, wife of Trump adviser Stephen Miller, characterized the Times report as a "hit piece" and argued that it is not unusual for a politician to rely heavily on his wife for advice, even without an official Pentagon position.
Rachel Campos-Duffy, a Fox News host and wife of Sean Duffy, echoed these sentiments, suggesting that political spouses can offer unique, agenda-free perspectives. "Every political marriage," she said, has one person in the politician's life who has "no angle except what's best for that person" – typically the wife.
Campos-Duffy acknowledged that Jen Hegseth might be more visible within the Pentagon than some other political spouses, adding, "Maybe she's a little more out front inside of the Pentagon."
She emphasized that Jen Hegseth is not involved in critical military decisions, stating, "It's not like she's in making… you know, bombing decisions in Iran." Campos-Duffy added that "the best politicians have really smart wives who help them decide and debate and discern what the best moves are."
Sean Duffy likened the dynamic to his own marriage, where his wife offers advice and challenges his thinking, though she does not attend all his meetings or have access to all his information. He noted that Jen Hegseth likely cannot participate in meetings involving classified information, such as those held in SCIFs (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities).
The New York Times investigation, based on interviews with over 20 current and former officials, detailed Jen Hegseth's extensive involvement, including assisting with public appearances, attending meetings with journalists, interviewing prospective staff, brainstorming for Defense Department videos, and joining high-level meetings with foreign officials.
The report highlighted an instance with British defense officials where Jen Hegseth's presence reportedly caused caution regarding sensitive discussions about intelligence sharing with Ukraine. The Pentagon has stated she was present only for introductions and not for classified discussions.
With experience as an executive producer at Fox News, Jen Hegseth has also been involved in the Pentagon's media operations. According to the Times, she influenced which reporters had access to her husband and advocated for revoking credentials from journalists who wrote critically of him. This led to changes in the Pentagon's media rotation system, replacing outlets like The New York Times and NBC News with organizations such as Breitbart and One America News.
Jen Hegseth also reportedly approved, alongside senior Pentagon officials, the creation of a makeup and television preparation studio for officials near the press briefing area.
Her involvement has drawn criticism from figures like John Ullyot, Hegseth's former Pentagon chief spokesman, who called it "bonkers" for a defense secretary to involve his wife in sensitive duties. Senator Chris Coons also questioned her participation in sensitive meetings, stating, "This is not normal."
The Pentagon, however, has described Jen Hegseth as an "accomplished leader," a "devoted military spouse," and a "vital asset" and "true force multiplier."
Jen Hegseth was recently appointed chair of the President's Military Spouse Commission, an unpaid position focused on improving the lives of military families and spouses, providing her with a formal platform.
Pete Hegseth has publicly credited his wife with helping him overcome a period of heavy drinking, referring to her as one of the "two Js" who "changed my life" and "saved me."