Dana Perino Reveals the One Thing She Regrets About Her Marriage to Peter McMahon – And It’s Not the Kids

Dana Perino, the esteemed Fox News anchor, co-host of The Five, and former White House Press Secretary, has long been admired for her poise and candor. At 53, her 27-year marriage to British businessman Peter McMahon, 70, is a cornerstone of her life, often described as a source of joy and strength. Yet, in a poignant moment during a May 2025 episode of her podcast, A Dana Perino Podcast: Everything’s Going to Be Okay, Perino shocked fans by revealing the one regret she holds about her marriage—a regret unrelated to their choice to forgo biological children. This deeply personal disclosure, shared with vulnerability, offered a rare glimpse into the complexities of their enduring love, leaving listeners moved and reflective.

A Love Story That Soared

Perino and McMahon’s romance began in August 1997 on a flight from Denver to Chicago, where they were the last to board and found themselves seated together. Perino, then 25

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Dana Perino Reveals the One Thing She Regrets About Her Marriage to Peter McMahon – And It’s Not the Kids

A Love Story That Soared

Perino and McMahon’s romance began in August 1997 on a flight from Denver to Chicago, where they were the last to board and found themselves seated together. Perino, then 25 and a political aide, was captivated by McMahon’s British charm and stories of his entrepreneurial ventures. As she shared with PEOPLE, their two-and-a-half-hour conversation sparked a connection that overcame an 18-year age gap and long-distance challenges. McMahon proposed outside the Washington National Cathedral in 1998, and Perino accepted with a heartfelt letter. They eloped in Blackpool, England, on September 30, 1998, building a life in New York and Bay Head, New Jersey.

Their marriage has thrived on mutual support. McMahon, president of GreenSleeve Medical Corporation, has been Perino’s confidant and strategist, guiding her through her White House tenure and Fox News career. Despite McMahon’s two children from a previous marriage, Barry and Kelly, the couple chose not to have children together, finding fulfillment in their Hungarian Vizslas—Henry, Jasper, and now Percy—and their shared adventures. Perino’s book Let Me Tell You About Jasper… celebrates their dogs, while her podcast often highlights their vibrant, child-free life. Recent challenges, including McMahon’s minor stroke in August 2024 and a neurological condition, have tested their resilience, with Perino’s caregiving role deepening their bond.

A Fulfilling Life Without Children

Perino has been open about their decision not to have children, a choice shaped by their circumstances and mutual contentment. In her 2015 book And the Good News Is…, she recalled a friend’s advice: “Do not pass up the chance to be loved.” This perspective guided their marriage, which Perino describes as “complete” without children. They cherish McMahon’s children and grandchildren, Rachel and Sebastian, and their dogs, with Percy now filling the void left by Jasper’s passing in 2021. Their life—marked by travel, puzzles, and McMahon’s love for American football as a citizen since 2006—reflects a partnership rooted in love and shared values.

Perino’s openness about their child-free life has resonated with fans, challenging societal norms. “You don’t need kids to have a full heart,” she told PEOPLE in 2025, emphasizing their joy in small moments, like Percy’s antics or McMahon’s adventurous spirit, from riding a Harley to petting elephants. Yet, her recent podcast revelation revealed a layer of complexity, showing that even a seemingly perfect marriage carries a quiet regret.

The One Regret: Time Left Unshared

During the May 2025 podcast, prompted by a listener’s question about lessons learned in marriage, Perino paused, her voice soft, and shared a regret she had never voiced publicly. “My one regret is not taking more time to just be with Peter,” she said. “I wish we’d spent more days doing nothing—just sitting together, talking, dreaming—without the rush of work or ambition.” She explained that their early years were consumed by her demanding career, from Capitol Hill to the White House, and later Fox News, often leaving little room for unhurried moments. “I’d give anything for more of those quiet days now,” she added, her words tinged with emotion.

Perino clarified that this regret was not about their child-free life, which she views as a deliberate and fulfilling choice. Instead, it stemmed from realizing, especially after McMahon’s 2024 health scares, that time is finite. She recounted a memory from 1999, when they spent a rainy weekend in England, curled up with books and their dog Henry, talking about everything from politics to their future. “Those moments were rare,” she said. “I regret not making more of them, especially when Peter was younger and healthier.”

The disclosure stunned listeners, as Perino is known for her optimism. She shared that McMahon’s recent health challenges—a stroke and a neurological condition requiring hospitalization—made her acutely aware of time’s fragility. “When you’re caregiving, you realize every moment matters,” she said. “I wish I’d slowed down more in our 20s and 30s.” The regret, she emphasized, doesn’t diminish their happiness but reflects her longing to have savored their connection more deeply.

A Revelation That Resonated

The revelation sparked an outpouring of emotion on X, with fans calling Perino’s honesty “heartbreakingly real.” One user wrote, “Dana’s regret about time hits hard—makes you want to hug your loved ones.” Another tweeted, “She’s so right about slowing down. Peter and Dana’s love is beautiful.” The story echoed Perino’s earlier reflections on caregiving, reinforcing her appreciation for McMahon’s strength. “He’s still my rock,” she said, noting their weekly “Compass Promise” check-ins, a ritual from a prior conversation, helped them reconnect but couldn’t replace lost time.

Perino’s regret offers a universal lesson: to prioritize presence over productivity. She shared a recent step toward addressing it, taking a weekend off to unplug with McMahon and Percy, reading and reminiscing. “It felt like 1999 again,” she said, laughing through tears. The moment underscored their resilience, built on love, humor, and shared history, from Henry’s Lincoln Park arrest to Jasper’s book-inspired legacy.

As Perino continues to anchor The Five and America’s Newsroom, her marriage remains her anchor. Her regret, far from a flaw, humanizes their story, showing that even the luckiest woman carries quiet wishes. “Peter’s love is my greatest gift,” she told listeners. “I just wish I’d lingered in it more.” For Dana Perino and Peter McMahon, this reflection is not a lament but a call to cherish every moment, making their love shine brighter than ever.