Pete Hegseth’s one-time Fox News allies are rallying behind his wife, Jen Hegseth, after a New York Times story depicted her as a strikingly influential — though unofficial — figure around Pentagon decision-making.
“Pete is blessed to have someone like Jen Hegseth partnering with him,” said Sean Duffy, the former Fox News host who is now serving as Transportation Secretary. “She’s really smart and Pete is better because of Jen.”
Duffy offered the defense during an appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast with his wife, Fox News personality Rachel Campos-Duffy, in a preview clip from the forthcoming episode obtained exclusively by the Daily Mail.
Katie Miller, who is married to Trump adviser Stephen Miller, dismissed the New York Times report as a “hit piece” targeting Jen Hegseth. She argued that it is hardly unusual for a public official to lean on a spouse for guidance, even when that spouse has no formal role inside the Pentagon.
The Duffys also pushed back on criticism of the Hegseths’ close working dynamic. Rachel Campos-Duffy said political spouses often hold a rare place of trust because, unlike many advisers and insiders, they are not necessarily driven by their own political ambitions or agendas.
‘Every political marriage,’ Campos-Duffy said, has one person in the politician’s life who has ‘no angle except what’s best for that person’ – the wife.
She acknowledged that Jen Hegseth may be more visible at her husband’s place of work compared to other political spouses.
‘Maybe she’s a little more out front inside of the Pentagon,’ Campos-Duffy said.
A New York Times investigation painted a striking picture of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s wife Jen and her influential role alongside her husband, describing her as his most influential adviser and de facto producer at the Pentagon
Jennifer Hegseth was recently named chair of the President’s Military Spouse Commission, an unpaid position focused on improving the lives of military families and spouses
‘It’s not like she’s in making… you know, bombing decisions in Iran,’ Campos-Duffy said of Jennifer Hegseth’s involvement at the Pentagon
‘But the best politicians have really smart wives who help them decide and debate and discern what the best moves are.’
Duffy then offered a glimpse into his own marriage, explaining that Rachel does not sit in on every meeting or have access to all of the information he receives as a senior government official.
But, he said, she still plays an important role as someone he trusts to challenge him and offer advice.
‘Sometimes she’ll come and say, hey, you need to do this and this and this,’ Duffy said.
He argued that the same dynamic applies to Pete and Jen Hegseth, praising the defense secretary for having his wife alongside him.
Duffy did acknowledge that there are clear limits to how involved Jen can be in her husband’s work, particularly when it comes to classified information.
‘She probably can’t get into every SCIF with all the knowledge and information that Pete has,’ he said, referring to the secure facilities where highly classified information is discussed.
Campos-Duffy likewise stressed that Jen was not involved in actual military decision-making.
‘It’s not like she’s in making… you know, bombing decisions in Iran,’ she said.
The fiery defense comes after a New York Times investigation painted a striking picture of Jen’s role alongside her husband and described her as his most influential adviser and his de facto producer at the Pentagon.
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According to The Times, interviews with more than 20 current and former administration officials and people close to Jen found that she has taken an unusually hands-on role around the Pentagon, despite initially having no official position there.
She has helped prepare Hegseth for public appearances, joined meetings with journalists, interviewed prospective staff and brainstormed ideas for Defense Department videos, while also attending high-level meetings with foreign officials.
The report highlighted one particularly sensitive meeting with British defense officials after the US temporarily halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
The Duffys discussed the Hegseth’s marriage on the latest episode of the Katie Miller podcast
British officials reportedly held back on discussing the risks to their personnel while Jen was present, with a more detailed conversation taking place after she left. The Pentagon has disputed that she was present for classified discussions, saying she was there only for introductions.
Her involvement has also extended to the Pentagon’s media operation, an area where she has particular experience.
Jen previously worked as an executive producer at Fox News and was involved in Hegseth’s television career before they married in 2019. The Times reported that she played a role in decisions over which reporters received access to her husband and pushed to revoke credentials from journalists she believed had written negatively about him.
After legal concerns were raised about targeting individual reporters, the Pentagon introduced a new media rotation system that removed outlets including The New York Times, NBC News, NPR and Politico from their workspaces and replaced them with organizations including the New York Post, Breitbart, One America News and HuffPost.
She has also reportedly helped shape Hegseth’s TV appearances and Pentagon media strategy. Sources said Jen approved, alongside senior Pentagon officials, an upgrade that turned a room near the press briefing area into a makeup and television preparation studio for senior officials and VIPs.
The extent of her involvement has drawn sharp criticism.
John Ullyot, Hegseth’s former Pentagon chief spokesman, told The Times: ‘It’s bonkers that a defense secretary would involve his wife in his sensitive official duties, including sharing details of an impending military operation, and face zero consequences.’
He added: ‘Any president deserves better judgment from his national security leaders.’
Senator Chris Coons has also questioned her participation in sensitive meetings, saying, ‘This is not normal,’ and arguing that Hegseth could not simply pass classified information to his wife.
Her defenders, however, see her involvement as evidence of her value to Hegseth.
The Pentagon has described her as an ‘accomplished leader’ and ‘devoted military spouse,’ calling her a ‘vital asset’ and ‘true force multiplier.’
Jen has now taken on an official Washington role of her own.
She was recently named chair of the President’s Military Spouse Commission, an unpaid position focused on improving the lives of military families and spouses.
The appointment gives her a formal platform beyond her role as Hegseth’s wife, even as questions continue over the extent of her influence inside the Pentagon.
Hegseth has credited Jen with helping him turn his life around during a period when he was drinking heavily.
In a December 2024 interview with Megyn Kelly, he described Jennifer and Jesus as his ‘two Js,’ saying his wife had ‘changed my life’ and ‘saved me.’