When Pete Hegseth became the United States Secretary of Defense in January 2025, his family stood beside him during one of the biggest moments of his career. Among the seven children attending the ceremony was his young son, Rex Brian Hegseth. Although his father has spent years in the public eye, Rex has grown up with far less attention.
Born on 1 October 2015, Rex is the youngest son of Pete Hegseth and his former wife, Samantha Deering. He turned 11 in October 2026. His family background has attracted interest because of his father’s military service, television career and important position in the American government.
There is more to Rex’s family story than his famous surname. He has two older brothers, a younger half-sister and three stepsiblings. His father has also spoken openly about raising seven children and the values he wants to teach them. Here is what is known about Rex’s childhood, parents, siblings and family life today.
Quick Bio
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rex Brian Hegseth |
| Date of Birth | 1 October 2015 |
| Age | 11 years old (as of October 2026) |
| Birthplace | United States (exact location not publicly confirmed) |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous For | Being the youngest son of Pete Hegseth |
| Father | Pete Hegseth |
| Mother | Samantha Deering |
| Stepmother | Jennifer Rauchet |
| Brothers | Gunner Hegseth and Peter Boone Hegseth |
| Half-Sister | Gwendolyn Hegseth |
| Stepsiblings | Jackson, Luke and Kenzie |
| Family Background | Part of a blended family of seven children |
| Public Appearance | Pete Hegseth’s swearing-in ceremony in January 2025 |
Who Is Rex Brian Hegseth?
Rex Brian Hegseth is an American child who is best known as the third son of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter and American political figure. His mother is Samantha Deering, whom Pete married in 2010.
Unlike his father, Rex has not entered the entertainment industry or developed a public career. His name mainly appears in news reports and family photographs connected to Pete’s life.
He was born several years before his father became a senior government official. During those years, Pete was already a familiar television personality, appearing regularly on Fox News and discussing American politics, military matters and national issues.
As his father’s career developed, interest in the Hegseth family also increased. However, Rex has remained largely outside the public spotlight.
Rex Brian Hegseth’s Age and Early Childhood
Rex was born on 1 October 2015 in the United States. As of October 2026, he is 11 years old. He is the youngest of three boys born during Pete Hegseth’s marriage to Samantha Deering.
His older brothers had already become part of the family before his arrival. Gunner was born in June 2010, followed by Peter Boone in August 2012. Rex joined them three years later.
During Rex’s early childhood, his father was building a successful career in television. Pete regularly appeared on national news programmes, which meant the family’s name was already recognised by many Americans.
Pete has occasionally shared photographs of his three sons, including pictures from family holidays and sporting events. These posts have offered small glimpses of Rex growing up with his brothers.
Meet Samantha Deering, Rex Brian Hegseth’s Mother
Samantha Deering is Rex’s biological mother and Pete Hegseth’s second wife. The couple married in 2010 and welcomed three children during their relationship.
Their first son, Gunner, arrived in June 2010. Peter Boone was born in August 2012, while Rex followed in October 2015.
Samantha was married to Pete during an important period of his television career. He had become a Fox News contributor in 2014 and was gaining recognition for his political views and military background.
Their marriage later broke down, and Samantha filed for divorce in 2017. Since the separation, she has maintained a relatively private life, with few confirmed details about her current activities.
Although Rex’s father frequently appears in the news, Samantha has not pursued the same level of public attention. Information about her relationship with her children and their day-to-day arrangements has largely remained private.
Pete Hegseth: The Famous Father Behind Rex’s Public Recognition
Pete Hegseth was born on 6 June 1980 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Before becoming a television personality, he studied at Princeton University and served in the United States Army National Guard.
His military career included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He received several military honours and later became involved in political commentary and veterans’ issues.
Pete joined Fox News as a contributor in 2014 and became particularly well known through Fox & Friends Weekend. His confident presenting style and views on military affairs helped him become a familiar figure among American television audiences.
His career changed significantly in January 2025 when President Donald Trump selected him to lead the Department of Defense. Following a closely contested Senate confirmation, Pete was sworn in as the 29th United States Secretary of Defense on 25 January 2025.
This appointment brought even greater attention to his family. For Rex, it marked a new stage in his father’s public career, although the young boy did not take on any official role himself.
Rex Brian Hegseth’s Brothers and Family Relationships
Rex has two older biological brothers, Gunner Hegseth and Peter Boone Hegseth. The three boys share the same parents and have occasionally appeared together in their father’s social media photographs.
Gunner is the eldest of the brothers, while Peter, who is commonly called Boone, is the middle child. Their father has shared updates about family outings, including visits to basketball games and trips to the beach.
In January 2024, Pete also shared that Boone had been elected class president at his school. It was a small family achievement that received attention because of his father’s public profile.
Rex is the youngest of the three brothers, but he is not the youngest child in the wider Hegseth family. His half-sister, Gwendolyn Hegseth, was born in August 2017.
Together with their stepsiblings, the children form a large family that Pete and his current wife have discussed in interviews.
Jennifer Rauchet and the Hegseth Blended Family
After his marriage to Samantha Deering ended, Pete Hegseth married Jennifer Rauchet in August 2019. Jennifer had previously worked as a producer at Fox News.
The couple share one daughter, Gwendolyn. Jennifer also has three children from an earlier relationship, often identified in public reports as Jackson, Luke and Kenzie.
This means Rex belongs to a blended family of seven children. He has two biological brothers, one half-sister and three stepsiblings.
Pete has spoken about the importance of bringing the children together as one family. In a February 2024 interview with Birmingham Christian Family, he explained that he did not like dividing the children into separate groups because of their different parents.
He described the family as being brought together through their Christian faith. His comments offered some insight into how he views his responsibilities as a father.
For Rex, Jennifer is his stepmother, although the family prefers to focus on its shared identity rather than labels.
Why Did the Hegseth Family Move to Tennessee?
In August 2022, Pete Hegseth announced that his family had moved to Middle Tennessee. The move was connected to the couple’s views on education, faith and the environment in which they wanted their children to grow up.
Pete later explained that he and Jennifer had researched different schools before choosing an area that offered classical Christian education.
They were particularly interested in a school that combined academic learning with religious teaching and traditional values. The family also spoke positively about the local community and church life.
The decision showed how important education was to Pete and Jennifer when planning their children’s upbringing.
However, there is limited independently confirmed information about Rex’s individual school experience in 2026. His grades, favourite subjects and personal academic achievements have not been publicly documented.
Rex Brian Hegseth’s Appearance at His Father’s Swearing-In Ceremony
One of Rex’s most notable public appearances came on 25 January 2025, when Pete Hegseth officially became Secretary of Defense.
The ceremony took place at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, DC. Vice President JD Vance administered the oath while Jennifer Rauchet stood beside her husband.
All seven Hegseth children attended the event. Photographs showed the family gathered around Pete, including a touching moment when the children embraced him after the ceremony.
For Americans watching the event, the pictures offered a look at the family behind the newly appointed government official.
Rex was only nine years old at the time. His appearance was part of a family occasion rather than a personal public engagement, but it remains one of the better-documented events involving him.
What Is Known About Rex Brian Hegseth’s Life Today?
As of October 2026, Rex Brian Hegseth is still a young child with no independently established professional or public career.
Although his father continues to receive media attention, Rex has not become a regular television personality or public speaker. There is also little verified information about his current hobbies or personal interests.
Much of what readers know comes from photographs and interviews shared by his father. These offer a picture of the wider family but do not reveal every detail of Rex’s everyday life.
His family’s move to Tennessee, the children’s occasional public appearances and Pete’s comments about parenting provide useful background. Beyond that, many aspects of Rex’s childhood have rightly remained outside public discussion.
Why Are People Interested in Rex Brian Hegseth?
Interest in Rex has increased because of his father’s position in American government. As Pete Hegseth became more prominent, readers naturally became curious about his marriages, children and family background.
Rex’s name is often mentioned alongside those of his mother, Samantha Deering, and his brothers, Gunner and Boone. His connection to Jennifer Rauchet’s family is another reason people search for information about him.
Yet Rex is different from public figures who have chosen careers in entertainment or politics. He is known through family connections rather than personal achievements in the public eye.
That distinction matters when looking at his story. While his family background is widely discussed, his own childhood remains largely separate from the political attention surrounding his father.
Conclusion
Rex Brian Hegseth is the youngest son of Pete Hegseth and Samantha Deering, born on 1 October 2015. He is growing up as part of a seven-child blended family that includes his brothers, half-sister and stepsiblings.
His father’s career has brought the Hegseth name into American homes, particularly following his appointment as Secretary of Defense in 2025. Nevertheless, Rex has remained a private young individual whose public appearances have mainly been connected to family occasions.
For now, the most reliable information about him concerns his parents, siblings and family history. His own interests and future direction remain his to discover as he grows older.
(FAQs)
Who is Rex Brian Hegseth?
Rex Brian Hegseth is the youngest son of Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News presenter and United States Secretary of Defense, and his second wife, Samantha Deering.
How old is Rex Brian Hegseth in 2026?
Rex was born on 1 October 2015. He turned 11 years old on 1 October 2026.
Who are Rex Brian Hegseth’s parents?
His biological parents are Pete Hegseth and Samantha Deering. His father later married Jennifer Rauchet in August 2019.
How many siblings does Rex Brian Hegseth have?
Rex has two biological brothers, Gunner and Peter Boone, a younger half-sister named Gwendolyn, and three stepsiblings from Jennifer Rauchet’s earlier relationship.
Where is Rex Brian Hegseth now?
Rex’s family relocated to Tennessee in 2022. However, his exact current living arrangements and everyday activities have not been publicly confirmed.
