In an era where environmental action is often steeped in politics, one unexpected voice is calling for change in a way that transcends ideological lines. Pete Hegseth, the outspoken Fox News host, Army veteran, and father of seven, is now using his platform to advocate for environmental responsibility — beginning at home, with a shovel in hand and his kids by his side.

Hegseth and his family recently launched a heartfelt campaign encouraging Americans to plant trees and protect the land — not as a political statement, but as a deeply personal expression of faith, family values, and patriotic stewardship.

“We teach our kids to love this country,” Hegseth said during a tree-planting event on their Tennessee property. “That love has to include the land. The fields, the rivers, the woods — they’re all gifts, and it’s our job to take care of them.”

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY FIRST: DIGGING ROOTS INTO THE LAND

With his wife Jennifer and their seven children — ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers — Hegseth spent a full weekend digging holes, planting saplings, and explaining the importance of trees to the family’s small but growing group of local supporters and neighbors.

“There’s no better classroom than the soil under your feet,” he said. “My kids learned more in one afternoon planting trees than they would in a semester of screen time.”

The initiative began as a personal family project. After watching a documentary on deforestation and soil erosion, Hegseth says he and Jennifer felt a tug on their hearts.

“It hit us. We’re raising seven kids in God’s creation — but are we doing our part to preserve it for them? What are we leaving behind?”

The next day, they bought 25 native Tennessee saplings and began planting them across their property. Soon after, Pete took the idea to social media — and it took off.

📢 FROM BACKYARD TO MOVEMENT: #PLANTFORAMERICA

Inspired by their experience, the Hegseths launched a nationwide campaign: #PlantForAmerica, a simple but powerful call to action encouraging families across the U.S. to plant at least one tree this year.

The campaign’s core values?

Faith — viewing environmental stewardship as a biblical responsibility
Family — promoting outdoor activity and bonding over shared purpose
Patriotism — honoring the land that sustains and defines the American spirit

“We don’t need to wait for Washington to fix the planet,” Hegseth said. “We need dads, moms, and kids out in their yards, digging, planting, and making something grow.”

With partnerships quietly forming with local nurseries, faith-based organizations, and even a few national retailers, the campaign is already seeing results. In just two weeks, over 7,500 trees have reportedly been planted in backyards, school gardens, and church grounds across 18 states.

🌿 A DIFFERENT KIND OF CONSERVATIVE CONSERVATION

Some might be surprised to see a conservative figure like Hegseth leading an environmental push — but he says that’s exactly the point.

“Conservation shouldn’t be owned by the left,” he explains. “It’s a deeply conservative value — to protect what’s been handed down, to nurture what we’ve been entrusted with. It’s the same principle that fuels my patriotism.”

Hegseth draws on historical figures like Theodore Roosevelt, who famously championed national parks and conservation while maintaining rugged American individualism.

“If TR could protect 230 million acres and still carry a big stick, then surely we can plant a few trees and still love freedom.”

🏫 EDUCATING THE NEXT GENERATION

Beyond planting trees, Pete and Jennifer are working with local schools and churches to incorporate outdoor education and sustainability lessons into youth programming.

They’ve also begun hosting small “green gatherings” at their home — informal events that combine faith-based reflection, prayer, and hands-on environmental activity.

“We talk a lot about service in our house,” Jennifer said. “And serving the Earth is part of serving God and serving others. It’s all connected.”

Their oldest children have even started their own “junior green team,” designing posters and handing out small saplings at local farmers markets.

📈 A GROWING IMPACT

Early buzz around the Hegseth family’s campaign has caught the attention of media outlets and influencers across ideological lines.

Some praise Pete for “reclaiming conservation from climate extremism,” while others appreciate the focus on action over argument.

“This is the kind of environmentalism that brings people together,” said one participant from a local Nashville tree-planting drive. “It’s practical, it’s positive, and it feels like something we can actually do.”

🌎 WHAT’S NEXT?

Pete Hegseth says this is only the beginning.

The family plans to publish a free e-guide this summer titled “Patriot’s Guide to Planting: Trees, Faith, and the Future,” and they’re exploring a partnership with national faith networks to expand #PlantForAmerica into a full-blown initiative for Creation Care among Christian households.

“If we can get even one million American families to plant a tree, the ripple effect is enormous,” Pete says. “It’s symbolic and it’s real. It’s one of the simplest acts of hope and healing.”

So while others debate climate change on TV, Pete Hegseth and his family are out in the dirt, planting seeds — literally and metaphorically — for a better future.

And they’re inviting every American family to join them.

“The roots we plant today will be the shade our grandchildren rest under. Start now.” – Pete Hegseth