Dana Perino was 25 years old when she met her much older husband, Peter McMahon — and she’s made no secret of the fact that her first thoughts after meeting him revolved around all the red flags. Even so, the couple has gone the distance, and Perino has joked on a number of occasions that everything worked out exactly as it was meant to. 

Perino, who once served as an aide to George W. Bush, was well aware of the hurdles she and McMahon faced from the very beginning. Speaking candidly at The Hudson Union, she recalled silently listing these challenges in prayer as her plane landed. Chief among them were their 18-year age gap, McMahon’s two previous marriages, and the fact that he resided in the U.K. However, a conversation with a close friend proved pivotal. In her book, “I Wish Someone Had Told Me …,” Perino recounts how her friend, Kim Wilkerson, advised, “Stop. Do not pass up the chance to be loved.” This encouragement led Perino to take a leap of faith, moving briefly to the U.K. before eventually returning to the U.S. with McMahon by her side, a decision she has never regretted.

Though their relationship has been a success, Dana Perino and Peter McMahon still find humor in some of the ongoing challenges they face, particularly regarding language differences. Despite these hurdles, the Fox anchor and her husband continue to thrive, proving that love can indeed conquer all obstacles.

Things may have worked out for Dana Perino and Peter McMahon, but the Fox anchor and her husband have nevertheless poked fun at some of the enduring challenges they face, particularly when it comes to language. 

In a 2022 episode of Perino’s “Everything Will Be Okay” Fox News podcast, McMahon made an appearance and joked that even after years of marriage, “Occasionally, Dana and I have a little bit of a dispute because there’s been a misunderstanding.” In particular, McMahon said the different ways they pronounced “Schedule” — he beginning with a “Shh” sound and she with “Sk” — was something Perino found especially annoying. “It’s like nails on a chalkboard, that word,” she agreed.

It’s pretty clear Perino and McMahon gave a great time together. He makes regular appearances on her Instagram, with the twosome trying out Gen Z photo trends, hanging out with their dog, and spending time with friends. However, every once in a while they play into the major age difference between them, as was the case when Perino began giving her husband weekly recaps of “The Summer I Turned Pretty.” The first in the series of Instagram videos — recorded by Perino’s assistants unbeknownst to McMahon — saw McMahon getting crochety as the explanation went on, eventually asking, “Why should I give a s***?” The updates continued in the weeks that followed, and though McMahon made no secret of the fact that he wasn’t interested, he was enough of a sport to be in the videos. Perino and McMahon may have a bigger age gap than she would initially have liked, but there’s no question that these two have a great thing going.