Jenn Pellegrino is an American journalist and political communications strategist, born on November 3, 1985. She previously anchored primetime news at Newsmax and now leads Defend Forgotten America, a nonprofit she founded in 2025.
Pellegrino also served as a White House correspondent during President Trump’s first term.
Who is Jenn Pellegrino?
Jenn Pellegrino built her career across conservative media and Republican political communications. She spent years covering the White House before moving into broadcast anchoring and, later, political advocacy work.
Pellegrino is best known for hosting Newsmax’s primetime lineup.
She later served as Chief Spokesperson for the America First Policy Institute before launching her own organization in late 2025.
Her career spans reporting, television hosting, and public relations work tied closely to the America First political movement.
Early Life of Jenn Pellegrino
Pellegrino grew up in a rural community in upstate New York. She has described watching her neighbors face the effects of policies set by officials in Washington, D.C., an experience she later cited as shaping her political views.
She eventually left New York to attend college in South Carolina.
Pellegrino has said her hometown experience, including factory closures and job losses, influenced the work she does today.
She built her academic and early career path around journalism from that point forward.
Jenn Pellegrino Age
Jenn Pellegrino is 40 years old as of 2026, born on November 3, 1985. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio.
Pellegrino has spent close to two decades in media and political communications since graduating from college in the mid-2000s.
She stands at 5 feet 10 inches, which is equal to 177 cm or 1.77 m, while her weight is around 80 kg.
Jenn Pellegrino Ethnicity and Nationality
Pellegrino holds American nationality and grew up in upstate New York. Specific details about her ethnic background have not been confirmed through her own public statements.
She has spoken about her rural upbringing as a formative influence on her political outlook. Pellegrino has kept most other family background details out of the public eye.
Jenn Pellegrino Education
Pellegrino graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in journalism. She completed her studies there in 2007, according to her professional biography.
That program set the foundation for her broadcast career.
She moved directly into television internships after finishing her degree, which led to her first industry roles at Fox News and QVC.
Jenn Pellegrino Career
Early Career
Pellegrino began her career with internships at Fox News, where she worked behind the scenes on “The O’Reilly Factor.” She also spent time as a guest coordinator for QVC early in her career.
Fox News later brought her back as a production assistant, where she edited programs and helped manage the correspondent team.
That production experience gave her a foundation in the technical side of television news before she moved toward on-air reporting roles.
Major Positions Held
Pellegrino’s profile rose significantly when she became a White House correspondent for One America News Network. In that role, she interviewed Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and other senior officials during Trump’s first term.
She left OAN in 2021 and joined Newsmax as a primetime anchor.
At Newsmax, she co-hosted “Cortes & Pellegrino Prime News” alongside Steve Cortes, a former Trump campaign adviser, starting May 11, 2021. She later took over as host of “Prime News” on her own, airing weeknights at 9 p.m. ET.
Current Role
In December 2024, Pellegrino joined the America First Policy Institute as Senior Director of Media Affairs and Chief Spokesperson. AFPI Executive Director Chad Wolf said at the time that she brought “a unique perspective” from her years covering the movement from both the White House press room and the anchor desk.
She departed AFPI in November 2025, according to the organization’s own announcement.
Shortly after, Pellegrino founded Defend Forgotten America, a nonprofit focused on rural and working-class communities, along with a related advocacy group called Defend Forgotten America Action.
She now serves as president and founder of both organizations, writing opinion pieces for outlets including The Washington Times and The Daily Signal.
Jenn Pellegrino Awards and Recognition
Specific awards or honors for Pellegrino have not been publicly confirmed through reliable sources.
Jenn Pellegrino Husband
Pellegrino has kept her personal relationship status private throughout her career. She has not confirmed whether she is married or in a relationship through her own social media accounts or interviews.
Her professional biography and public statements focus almost entirely on her career.
She has not addressed questions about a husband or partner in any verified interview or official biography.
Jenn Pellegrino Net Worth
Jenn Pellegrino’s estimated net worth is $1 million as of 2026. Her income comes from her years in broadcast journalism, along with her later work in political communications and advocacy.
Jenn Pellegrino Social Media
Pellegrino is active on X under the handle @JennPellegrino. She uses the platform to share commentary tied to her advocacy work and past journalism career.
She also maintains a presence on Instagram, though her verified handle has not been confirmed through reliable sources.
The Bottom Line
Jenn Pellegrino spent years as a White House correspondent for One America News before anchoring primetime shows at Newsmax, including “Cortes & Pellegrino Prime News” starting in 2021.
She later served as Chief Spokesperson for the America First Policy Institute beginning in December 2024.
Pellegrino grew up in rural upstate New York, an experience she has said shaped her focus on working-class communities. She is also a marathon runner who has completed more than 80 marathons across the United States.
In late 2025, Pellegrino founded Defend Forgotten America, a nonprofit she now leads as president. We hope you enjoyed reading about Jenn Pellegrino. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!