In the corridors of the Pentagon, they have begun calling her the “First Lady of the Pentagon.” But suspicions have long circulated in Washington that Jennifer Hegseth may have ambitions to one day remove the word “Pentagon” from this definition and remain simply the First Lady.
The third wife of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is not just the wife who appears at his side at official ceremonies. According to a New York Times profile, her influence has reached the heart of how the inner circle of one of the most powerful people in the US administration operates.
She handles her husband's relations with the media, has participated in the selection of his associates, has conducted interviews for hiring and firing, and accompanies Hegseth on some of his activities with the army.
And meanwhile Pete Hegseth has started appearing privately in Iowa.
In American politics, Iowa is not just a destination. It is the state where Republicans traditionally start the presidential primaries. For 2028, the mere presence of an ambitious politician there is enough to ignite speculation.
Jennifer and Pete Hegseth's story, meanwhile, began far away from the Pentagon.
Pete, born in Minnesota, studied at Princeton and then served in Iraq and Afghanistan. After returning, he built his career as a commentator on Fox News. It was there that he met Jennifer, the daughter of a Lockheed Martin executive, raised in Maryland and a producer at Rupert Murdoch's television station.
Both were married.
The relationship began secretly, ended in their respective divorces and then marriage. Between them, they had six children from previous relationships.
Pete Hegseth has spoken out about his problems with alcohol and says that he was saved from a dark period in his life by "the two Js": Jennifer and Jesus — Jennifer and Jesus, in that order.
Today, Jennifer is considered by those around him as the person who makes sure her husband doesn't get close to alcohol. But her role seems to go much further.
She reportedly has influence over relations with journalists and the selection of people who work with Hegseth. In the case of former spokesman John Ullyot, she was reportedly involved in the process that led to his dismissal.
Jennifer appears with her husband during visits to American troops, has accompanied him to the Normandy landing beaches and has become president of an organization of military wives.
But its presence on national security issues has also created much more serious controversies.
Jennifer was part of the Signal conversation where Hegseth had shared information about attack plans against the Houthis in Yemen.
Another episode caused embarrassment during a meeting with British defense officials discussing the strategic consequences of suspending intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Jennifer was sitting next to her husband.
The problem was simple: British officials were discussing military secrets, and it was unclear whether the wife of the US Secretary of Defense had the necessary clearance for classified information.
Finally she left the room.
In Washington, of course, the influence of a powerful wife always breeds gossip, rivalries, and accusations. Jennifer's defenders might argue that some of the criticism is precisely because she is rapidly gaining influence.
But the question remains: where does the role of the wife end and where does real power begin?
Because as Jennifer becomes increasingly present in the Pentagon's orbit, Pete Hegseth is watching from Iowa.
And in Washington, the combination of these two things is very easy to read.
Today they call her the "First Lady of the Pentagon."
If Pete Hegseth's presidential ambitions are real, Jennifer could be preparing for a much shorter title: First Lady of the United States.
