Pete Hegseth ’s rise to Secretary of Defense hasn’t just kept the spotlight on him — it’s also drawn attention to his family, particularly his mother, Penelope Hegseth .

At the end of 2024, The New York Times published a private 2018 email in which Penelope sharply criticized her son, sparking headlines just as he was stepping into one of the most powerful roles in Washington. Around the same time, Donald Trump announced Pete’s nomination, praising him in a November 2024 statement: “I am honored to announce that I have nominated Pete Hegseth to serve in my cabinet as the secretary of defense. Pete has spent his entire life as a warrior for the troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First. With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on n

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