Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth apparently has a problem at the Pentagon—and it isn't just the one staring back at him in the mirror.
According to a new report, Pentagon staffers have given Hegseth's wife, Jennifer, a rather brutal nickname: “Yoko Ono.” The reference suggests she has become a powerful influence over her husband and is deeply involved in his professional affairs, according to the Daily Mail.
Jennifer Hegseth has reportedly become a regular presence inside the Pentagon, sitting in on high-level meetings, helping prepare her husband for public appearances, weighing in on communications, and reportedly even participating in the hiring process. She was also tapped to chair the newly established Military Spouse Commission after appearing alongside Hegseth and Donald Trump at the White House.
That level of involvement has raised eyebrows among Pentagon insiders. One former official questioned why a defense secretary would involve his wife in sensitive official matters, including information concerning an impending military operation. Another official described Jennifer as one of Hegseth's closest advisers and said her access inside the Pentagon was highly unusual for a defense secretary's spouse.
The nickname also comes amid reports that Jennifer has been closely monitoring her husband at work because of concerns about his drinking. One source described her, rather uncharitably, as functioning as both his “parole officer” and PR agent.
The Pentagon's nickname game apparently doesn't stop with Whiskey Pete’s wife. Hegseth has reportedly been dubbed “No Tab Pete,” a reference to his lack of elite military qualification patches such as Ranger or Sapper tabs.
So, according to these reports, the Pentagon has managed to give its top civilian military official and his wife nicknames that are considerably less flattering than anything you'd find on an official nameplate.
It boggles the mind that Jennifer follows her husband to work so often. If I started inserting myself into my husband's workplace, my Honey is gonna start giving me the stink eye. I'm going to go out on a limb here to suggest that they have a dysfunctional marriage and that his wife doesn't trust him very much. But everything about this administration is weird, including the wives.
