WASHINGTON, DC, USA — As President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, navigates his contentious confirmation process, newly surfaced reports of past allegations and a blistering email from his own mother have added fuel to the debate over his suitability for the role.
The email, sent by Hegseth’s mother, Penelope Hegseth, in 2018 and obtained by The New York Times, criticised her son’s treatment of women, including his first two wives.
In the scathing message, Penelope accused her son of abusive behaviour, infidelity, and manipulation.
“On behalf of all the women (and I know it’s many) you have abused in some way, I say… get some help and take an honest look at yourself,” Penelope wrote, adding, “I have no respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around and uses women for his own power and ego.”
She also condemned his treatment of his second wife, Samantha, during their divorce, calling his attempts to label her as “unstable” a “despicable and abusive” act.
Regret and Denial
Speaking to The New York Times on Friday, November 29, 2024, Penelope Hegseth recanted her 2018 claims, calling the email a mistake made in a moment of heightened emotion.
“It is not true. It has never been true,” she said. “I know my son. He is a good father, husband.”
The Trump campaign defended Hegseth, with communications director Steven Cheung blasting the report as “despicable” and accusing the newspaper of publishing “an out-of-context snippet” from a private email exchange.
Past Allegations Resurface
The scrutiny on Hegseth’s personal life comes as he faces renewed attention over past accusations of misconduct.
In 2017, Hegseth was accused of rape by a woman he met at a Republican conference.
Although he admitted to paying the woman a settlement, he denied the allegations, claiming the encounter was consensual. No charges were ever filed.
Hegseth’s second wife, Samantha, filed for divorce after it was revealed he had been having an affair with Fox News executive Jennifer Rachet.
The two later married in 2019 and have a daughter together.
Implications for Confirmation
Hegseth’s confirmation for the role of defense secretary has already faced headwinds, with critics pointing to these personal controversies as distractions from his qualifications.
His high-profile divorce, the 2017 allegations, and now his mother’s critical email have emboldened opponents who question whether his personal conduct aligns with the standards expected of a senior cabinet official.
Despite the challenges, Hegseth retains strong support among Trump loyalists, who have praised his military background and alignment with the administration’s policies.
However, as the confirmation process unfolds, the weight of these revelations could influence lawmakers as they decide his fate.
Trump’s selection of Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Iraq War veteran, reflects the president-elect’s preference for loyalists with media savvy.
Whether Hegseth can weather the storm of personal and professional scrutiny remains to be seen.