Pete Hegseth to announce shock retirement from politics?

Sad news for Hegseth fans. Speculation had been rife that the US Defense Secretary is about to announce his retirement from politics, at age 45, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a politician isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a politician-journalist just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouPete

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouPete was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“Pete Hegseth was unlike any other politician we’ve ever seen! #ThankYouPete”
— @universalObserver, 19 Mar 2026

“Hegseth wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 19 Mar 2026

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