Megyn Kelly faced intense criticism from members of the 'MAGA' movement this week after she asserted that Donald Trump 'has cheated on every wife he’s had.' The 55-year-old former Fox News host made the bold claim during an appearance on the Hodgetwins podcast on Friday, responding to a question about Trump's past remarks regarding former National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent.
Context of the Controversy
Kelly’s comments stemmed from Trump’s criticism of Kent, who resigned in March over the war in Iran. Trump had blasted Kent for remarrying 'fairly quickly' after his first wife, Shannon, died in combat in 2019. Kent married his current partner, Heather Kaiser Kent, in August 2023, more than four years after being widowed.
'Talk about a glass house!' Kelly began on the podcast. 'I mean, he met Marla Maples while he was still married to the mother of his children, Ivana,' she added, referring to Trump’s second wife. Kelly claimed the thrice-married president was 'proud of the affair' and the media coverage it received in the 1980s. She then turned her attention to Trump’s current wife, First Lady Melania Trump, stating, 'If you think Trump’s been faithful to Melania, that’s great: You’ve got bigger issues than I can solve here.'
MAGA Backlash
The former Trump supporter was immediately bombarded with critical comments from right-wing figures. Far-right influencer Laura Loomer called Kelly an 'opportunistic snake' and a 'hooker' while resharing the clip. University of Missouri professor Karen Piper wrote, 'Megyn Kelly goes whichever way the wind blows. She now sees Trump as a loser and wants to jump ship.' Conservative commentator Ben Hart added, 'It's just impossible to go lower than Megyn Kelly.' Other X accounts urged the first lady to 'please sue Megyn Kelly for these egregious lies about Trump cheating on you.'
Notably, no public record exists of Trump being unfaithful to Melania or his second wife, Marla Maples. The Daily Mail has approached both Kelly and the White House for comment.
Kelly’s Break with Trump
Kelly broke ranks with the president in February over U.S. strikes against Iran, aligning with other conservatives like Tucker Carlson. Kent, who served as Trump’s top counter-terrorism official, resigned in March for similar reasons, claiming Iran posed no imminent threat and that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and lobbyists.
Kent’s first wife, Navy Chief Cryptologic Technician Shannon Kent, died in a suicide bombing in Syria in January 2019. The couple had two children. Kent married his second wife, Heather Kaiser, in August 2023, more than four years later. He was confirmed by the Senate after being appointed by Trump in 2025. Trump said he was 'not a fan of' Kent after his resignation, remarking, 'His wife was killed, and he remarried fairly quickly. I felt badly for him.'
