Penelope Hegseth’s fiery appearance on Fox & Friends is making waves, as she stepped up to defend her son, Pete Hegseth, against what she called a “media witch hunt.”
The decorated Army veteran and President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense has faced a barrage of attacks from legacy media, with accusations ranging from personal misconduct to character assassination. Penelope wasn’t holding back, delivering a passionate plea to the public and lawmakers to look beyond the sensational headlines.
“Thank you for your belief in my son,” she began, speaking directly to viewers. “We really believe that he is not the man he was seven years ago. I’m not that mother, and I hope people will hear that story today and the truth of that story.” Her words came as an emotional rebuttal to recent stories, particularly one from The New York Times, which dredged up an email she had written years ago during her son’s contentious divorce.
PENELOPE HEGSETH: @PeteHegseth is “the most faithful patriot of this country … he has fought and almost died for his country. He’s a good dad, he’s an amazing son and father — and that’s the Pete I want people to know.” pic.twitter.com/3sgSVvfVm7
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) December 4, 2024
That email, which accused Pete of being “abusive to women” and engaging in other questionable behaviors, has been seized upon by critics. However, Penelope clarified the context behind it, acknowledging that it was written in a moment of raw emotion during an especially turbulent time. “Go back seven years, which, if we all went back seven years, we would see maybe we are not the people we are today,” she explained. “It was a difficult time.”
She also revealed that she had retracted the email with an apology just hours after writing it—something she says the media conveniently left out of their coverage. “I wrote that out of love, and about two hours later, I retracted it with an apology, and nobody has seen that,” she noted. This omission, according to Penelope, underscores a pattern of media bias and selective reporting.
Perhaps the most striking moment came when she turned her ire directly toward the media itself. She accused outlets of using intimidation tactics to manipulate narratives.
“Part of today is to discredit the media and how they operate,” she said. “When they contact you… they threaten you. ‘Unless you make a statement, we will publish it as is.’ I think that is a despicable way to treat anyone. Threats are dangerous, and they are hard on families.”
Her message was clear: the attacks on her son are not just about him—they’re part of a broader media culture that prioritizes takedowns over truth. By highlighting these practices, Penelope not only defended her son but also shined a spotlight on the often ruthless dynamics of political reporting.
