Fox News host Pete Hegseth forcefully rejected rumors that his wife orchestrated the ouster of Tucker Carlson from the conservative network as the shocking removal of the popular host remains shrouded in mystery as to what really happened and why.
Hegseth, who reportedly is among those being considered as potential replacements to fill Carlson’s vacated primetime slot, defended his spouse, Fox News producer Jennifer Rauchet after gossip by internet personality Stew Peters who cited an anonymous source was amplified by The National File’s Frankie Stockes in an article posted to the website.
“The fakest news I’ve ever seen. My amazing wife @JennyHegseth had absolutely nothing to do with anything. Not one iota. Like everybody else, we love Tucker. Get a life ‘Frankie Stockes,’” Hegseth said in a Thursday tweet.
The fakest news I’ve ever seen. My amazing wife @JennyHegseth had absolutely nothing to do with anything. Not one iota. Like everybody else, we love Tucker. Get a life “Frankie Stockes”https://t.co/EoA9W5U4Jt
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 27, 2023
“It’s no secret TV news is one of the most vile workplaces out there,” Peters wrote on Twitter on Thursday with a link to Stockes’ story. “No surprise Tucker wannabes like Pete Hegseth (who has his wife do his dirty work for him) is connected to Fox giving Tucker the axe.”
Peters’ original tweet that fed the rumors was posted on Tuesday, the day after Carlson was removed.
“Reports from credible sources tell us Pete Hegseth’s wife was Tucker’s hatchet lady,” he wrote, along with the “inside scoop” that he said was provided to him by another Twitter user who cited secondhand information from an anonymous source.
“I have a longtime friend at Fox News. He just texted me that Tucker was planning a segment to destroy the 60 Minutes Ray Epps episode. Exec Producer Jennifer Rauchet (photo below) told him he couldn’t run the segment so he quit,” the user claimed. “Jennifer is a nobody who is Pete Hegseth’s wife. She obviously was sent to give him a message. It makes sense she has had to carry them from the network before. So the story at least makes sense.”
(Image: Screengrab/Twitter)
Hegseth attempted to reach out to Peters after his initial tweet to set the record straight.
“Hey @realstewpeters, you need more credible sources. My wife has nothing to do with Tucker’s show & was not involved at all in any aspect of the decision. Someone who knows nothing started this rumor. Hit me up if you want to discuss,” he wrote on Wednesday.
Hey @realstewpeters, you need more credible sources. My wife has nothing to do with Tucker’s show & was not involved at all in any aspect of the decision. Someone who knows nothing started this rumor. Hit me up if you want to discuss.
— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) April 26, 2023
According to a report by rival network MSNBC that is cited in the National File story, Fox News “will be trying out guest hosts for at least the next several weeks, as it did in 2021 after removing Martha MacCallum from the 7 p.m. time slot eventually claimed by Jesse Watters. Longtime ‘Fox & Friends’ co-host Brian Kilmeade leads off the search this week; in-house commentators like Pete Hegseth and Will Cain can be expected to follow.”
Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE
- Nancy Mace confirms DOJ is monitoring ‘ALL DOCUMENTS members of Congress search’ - February 12, 2026
- ‘Seditious Six’ Dems set to deploy lawfare against Trump admin. - February 12, 2026
- Ketanji Brown Jackson defends Grammy appearance to swooning co-hosts on ‘The View’ - February 11, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.