In 2018, Pete Hegseth, a key figure in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, faced accusations from his own mother, Penelope Hegseth, regarding his mistreatment of women, including infidelity and questionable behavior. She later apologized for the email, which became a focal point of scrutiny during his Senate confirmation process for Secretary of Defense.
The New York Times reported that Penelope Hegseth sent a critical email to her son in April 2018 accusing him of years of mistreating women and lacking moral character. In the email, she expressed that Pete had belittled women for his own personal gain and that she, as his mother, was both embarrassed and pained by his actions.
The email quickly became public, drawing attention to accusations of infidelity and a rape allegation that emerged during Pete Hegseth’s nomination to become Secretary of Defense.
The email sent by Penelope Hegseth to her son was written during a particularly contentious period in their lives. Pete was going through a messy divorce from his second wife, Samantha Hegseth, who had filed for divorce after discovering that Pete had impregnated a co-worker.
The divorce followed a pattern of infidelity that began with his first marriage to Meredith Schwarz, which ended in 2009. In the email, Penelope expressed frustration with Pete’s treatment of Samantha, criticizing his attempt to discredit his ex-wife by labeling her “unstable” for his own benefit. She called his behavior “despicable and abusive.”
Despite the harsh criticism in the email, Penelope immediately followed up with a second message apologizing for her outburst. She explained that she had written the original email in anger due to Pete's difficult divorce and that she regretted the sentiments she expressed. She later disavowed her initial comments in an interview with The New York Times, stating that they were not true. Penelope also emphasized that her son was a good father and husband, rejecting the notion that Pete had abused women or lacked character.
The issues with Pete Hegseth’s personal life gained renewed attention when he was nominated by Donald Trump to become Secretary of Defense.
Along with concerns about his infidelity, reports surfaced regarding a rape complaint filed against Pete in 2017. The allegation stemmed from an incident at a political conference in Monterey, California, where a woman accused him of rape. Pete denied the claim, stating that the encounter had been consensual.
His lawyer later confirmed that Pete had made a settlement payment to the woman, which he said was done to protect his job at Fox News.
Penelope Hegseth’s criticism was not limited to her son’s behavior toward women. She also referenced Pete’s treatment of his first wife, Meredith Schwarz, describing how she did not deserve the mistreatment she received.
Penelope forwarded the email to Samantha the same night she sent it to Pete, amplifying the emotional nature of the accusations. In later statements, Penelope tried to distance herself from her earlier comments, calling the publication of her critical email “disgusting.”
She went on to praise Pete in a 2019 Fox News interview, describing him as a loving son and an exemplary father, while praising his military service.
As Pete Hegseth’s nomination for Secretary of Defense moved forward, the allegations surrounding his treatment of women continued to attract scrutiny. Some Republican senators, including Senator Joni Ernst, called for a thorough vetting of the sexual assault allegation.
However, Ernst indicated that the allegations would not be a major obstacle to Hegseth’s confirmation. “Any time there are allegations, you want to make sure they are properly vetted,” she said, suggesting that the confirmation process should address concerns about Pete’s past behavior.
Pete’s ex-wife, Samantha, and their three children were also at the center of public attention during the confirmation process. Divorce records revealed the extent of the couple’s contentious relationship, with disputes over child custody and communications that were at times harsh.
In 2020, Pete admitted in an affidavit that he regretted sending a particularly degrading text to Samantha, which had called her “pathetic and selfish.” He expressed a commitment to improving communication with his ex-wife moving forward.
Penelope Hegseth, who had initially called out her son for mistreating women, defended him publicly during the confirmation process.
She stated that her son had shown remorse for his past actions and was committed to learning from his mistakes. During her interview, she praised Pete for his role as a father and husband and reaffirmed her belief that he was a good man. Despite the family drama and public accusations, Penelope insisted that the man she knew was a loving son.
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for President Donald Trump, also weighed in on the situation, calling it “disgusting” that Penelope Hegseth’s private email exchange with her son had been published. He emphasized that Penelope had apologized for her emotional outburst and regretted the original email’s contents.
As Pete Hegseth’s confirmation hearing continued, the combination of personal allegations and family discord added complexity to his nomination for Secretary of Defense.
Although some senators expressed concerns, Pete’s nomination proceeded, and his controversial past became one of the more talked-about elements of his confirmation process.
