Pete Hegseth, a Christian and a veteran, is the US Secretary of Defense. He was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hegseth has been married three times and has seven children. He graduated from Princeton University and Harvard University, and served in the Army National Guard for 19 years.

Early Life and Career

Hegseth’s father, Brian Hegseth, was a basketball coach, and his mother, Penelope Hegseth, was a career coach. He was raised in a Christian family and has spoken publicly about the importance of his faith. Hegseth has also been open about his struggles with excessive drinking and has spoken about how his faith has helped him to overcome them.

Hegseth has a history of supporting conservative policies, including the use of the US military to put down domestic riots and the implementation of enhanced interrogation methods. He has also spoken in favor of pardoning US soldiers convicted of war crimes and has expressed support for targeting cultural institutions in drone strikes.

Controversies

Hegseth has been involved in several controversies, including a sexual assault allegation in 2017. He has also been accused of mistreating his former wives and has been criticized for his views on women in combat roles. In 2021, Hegseth was removed from inauguration duty for President Joe Biden due to a religious tattoo of a Jerusalem cross.

In 2024, Hegseth was nominated by President Trump to be the US Secretary of Defense. He was confirmed by the Senate in January 2025, despite concerns about his past controversies and his views on women in combat roles. As Secretary of Defense, Hegseth has implemented several policies, including a new screening program for testosterone deficiency among troops and a directive allowing National Guard members to carry sidearms.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.