Major Controversies Surrounding Pete Hegseth: A Detailed Timeline

Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Pete Hegseth.

Peter Brian Hegseth is an American former Army National Guard officer, television presenter, and author. He is described as having served as the 29th United States secretary of defense since 2025.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Controversies & Scandals

June 2015: Axe-Throwing Incident

In June 2015, Hegseth accidentally hit a drummer from the United States Military Academy with an axe during a Flag Day event in New York City.

April 2018: Email Accusations from Mother

In April 2018, Pete Hegseth's mother, Penny, sent an email accusing him of mistreating women for years. This email was later obtained by The New York Times.

October 2018: Migrant Caravan Claims

In October 2018, Trump claimed that "unknown Middle Easterners" had infiltrated the migrant caravan, citing a comment Hegseth had made on Fox & Friends.

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August 2019: Video Games and Mass Shootings

In August 2019, Trump repeated claims that Hegseth had made correlating video games with mass shootings after two mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton.

2022: Protested Critical Race Theory at Harvard

In 2022, Hegseth protested the offering of classes in critical race theory at Harvard University by sending his degree back to the university.

2023: Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network

In the 2023 Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network case, a segment of Fox & Friends Weekend featuring Hegseth was included, where claims of election fraud were not rejected.

November 12, 2024: Nomination for Secretary of Defense

On November 12, 2024, Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense after Tom Cotton declined. This decision, seen as prioritizing loyalty over experience, followed Hegseth ending his Fox News contract. Allegations of sexual assault surfaced, but Trump defended him.

November 2024: Views on Women in Combat Roles

In November 2024, Pete Hegseth stated in a podcast interview with Shawn Ryan that women should not serve in combat roles.

November 2024: New York Times Reports on Email

In November 2024, The New York Times reported on an April 2018 email from Pete Hegseth's mother accusing him of mistreating women. She defended her son on Fox News, stating he was "redeemed, forgiven, changed."

November 2024: Sexual Assault Allegations Reported

In November 2024, Vanity Fair reported allegations of a sexual assault by Pete Hegseth in October 2017. The Monterey Police investigated two incidents. Although Hegseth was not charged, a non-disclosure agreement and payment to the accuser were reported. Hegseth's lawyer claimed extortion.

January 2025: Affidavit Allegations

In January 2025, NBC News reported that Samantha's sister Danielle sent an affidavit to senators alleging that Pete Hegseth had made his wife concerned for her safety. Hegseth's lawyer dismissed the allegations.