Hegseth's Blended Family, Security Slip-ups

0:00It's April 29, I'm Cory with a story, and this is Entertainment and Celebrity News. Today, your AI-powered entertainment report. Pete Higgseth, now Secretary of Defense, married his third wife, Jennifer Rausche, back in August 2019 at Trump National Golf Club in New Jersey. She's a former Fox News producer who worked on shows like Fox and Friends where they first crossed paths. Both were married to others at the time, but they started their blended family of seven kids, including a daughter born together in August 20, 17. That daughter arrived right before Higgseth's second divorce from Samantha Deering, with whom he has three sons. Rausche brought three kids for her past relationships. Higgseth has been open about their family life on social media, posting holiday picks and game days, and all seven showed up when he got sworn in at the White House in January 2025. Rausche stood by him through tough spots, like when a 2017 sexual assault claim surfaced from a California conference.

1:01He settled that for $50,000 in 2020 without charges, and she fired back online saying critics were after their values. Not. Him. She's been at his side for big events, too, but the White House correspondent's dinner dispassed April. Lely, though, Rausche's caught heat for popping up in sensitive chats. Higgseth looped her into a signal group, discussing U.S. strikes on Yemen's hoothies, sharing missile flight details alongside his brother, and lawyer. She's tagged along to Pentagon meetings with foreign officials, even without an official role. This mix of family loyalty and security slip-ups keeps their story in the spotlight, as Higgseth navigates his high-stakes job. Eyes stay glued on how it all shakes out.