Dana Perino, a prominent political commentator and former White House Press Secretary, is known for her sharp insights and articulate opinions on current affairs. However, her personal life reads like a romantic comedy, filled with serendipity and unexpected twists.

The story of how she met her husband, Peter McMahon, is a testament to the idea that sometimes, love finds you when you least expect it.

It all began in 1997 when Perino boarded a Chicago-bound flight, running late and hoping to make it in time. Little did she know that her tardiness would lead her to a life-changing encounter.

As fate would have it, she and McMahon were the last two passengers to board the plane, which meant they were assigned the only remaining seats next to each other.

This seemingly trivial circumstance set the stage for a connection that would last a lifetime.

During the flight, McMahon made an immediate impression on Perino. In a candid interview with the American Enterprise Institute, she recounted how he asked if he could place his bag in the overhead compartment. “And I look over.

I’m like, ‘accent,'” she joked, recalling the moment she was captivated by his charming British accent. As the flight progressed, she found herself increasingly drawn to him—not only was he handsome, but he also wore no wedding ring, which piqued her interest even further.

However, the flight ended, and the couple had to part ways upon landing.

Despite the brief encounter, Perino felt compelled to give McMahon her contact information. She waited anxiously for him to reach out, but ten days passed without a word. Just as she was beginning to lose hope, an email arrived, reigniting her excitement.

This initial correspondence blossomed into a long-distance relationship, and ten months later, Perino made the bold decision to move to England to be with McMahon.

Their marriage in 1998 marked the beginning of a beautiful journey together, but it wasn’t without its challenges.

With an 18-year age gap—Perino was just 25, while McMahon was 43—she had her doubts.

“What are we going to do … this can’t be possible,” she recalled thinking at the time. T

he age difference, coupled with the fact that McMahon lived in another country, made her question the viability of their relationship. Yet, despite her reservations, Perino took the leap of faith, fully committing to their life together.

In an opinion piece for Fox News, Perino reflected on her marriage, describing it as the “best decision [she] ever made,” while also acknowledging that it was “sometimes the hardest thing [she’s] ever done.” The couple has now been married for over 25 years, proving that love can indeed conquer obstacles. Perino often considers the odds of their meeting and how close she was to missing out on a beautiful lifelong experience. “Still feels improbable,” she mused.

“What if I’d missed the plane or was assigned to a different seat?”

Their enduring relationship is a testament to the power of love and the importance of taking risks. Perino and McMahon have built a life together that balances their individual careers and shared interests. They have supported each other through various challenges, including the demands of Perino’s high-profile career in politics and media.

As a couple, they embody the idea that love knows no boundaries—whether they be age, distance, or career aspirations. Their story serves as an inspiration to many, reminding us that sometimes, the most beautiful relationships are born out of chance encounters and the willingness to embrace the unknown.

In a world where relationships can often feel fleeting, Dana Perino and Peter McMahon’s love story stands as a beacon of hope. Their journey from a chance meeting on a flight to a lasting partnership is a reminder that love can be found in the most unexpected places, and that taking a leap of faith can lead to a lifetime of happiness. As they continue to navigate life together, their smiles reflect a deep bond that has only grown stronger with time, proving that true love is indeed worth the wait.

Dana Perino and her husband, Peter McMahon, smiling© Jamie Mccarthy/Getty Images

Dana Perino is well-known as a political commentator and former White House Press Secretary, but her personal life could easily be the plot of a romantic comedy. “The Five” host didn’t expect to meet her husband, Peter McMahon, when she boarded a Chicago-bound flight in 1997, but that’s exactly what happened. What people don’t know about Perino is that she wouldn’t have met her husband at all if they hadn’t both been running late. Perino and McMahon were the last two people to board the plane, which meant they were assigned the only remaining seats right next to each other.

McMahon made an immediate impression on the former press secretary. During an interview with the American Enterprise Institute, she recalled him asking if he could put his bag above them. “And I look over. I’m like, ‘accent,'” she joked. Perino admitted she was instantly drawn in by his British accent, then noticed that he was handsome and had no wedding ring. Her feelings towards McMahon only intensified throughout the flight.

Since McMahon was from the UK, they had to part ways when the plane landed, but Perino gave him her contact information. It took McMahon 10 days to reach out, and by then, Perino had started to lose hope. Just as she was preparing to forget about him, he emailed. 10 months later, Perino moved to England to be with him.

Perino Had Many Doubts At The Start Of Their Relationship

Dana Perino smiling© Theo Wargo/Getty Images

Dana Perino and Peter McMahon married in 1998. After more than 25 years of marriage, the couple is still going strong, proving that the 18-year age gap was just a number for them. Initially, that difference was one of many things Perino worried about when pursuing McMahon. “I’m only 25. He’s 43. What are we going to do … this can’t be possible,” she remembered thinking. “I had a lot of reasons to talk myself out of it,” she told the American Enterprise Institute.

McMahon living in England was another concern for Perino, who was on the cusp of her stunning career transformation. But she took the leap, moving to England and fully committing to their life together. In an opinion piece for Fox News, Perino described their marriage as the “best decision [she] ever made,” while simultaneously reflecting on it being “sometimes the hardest thing [she’s] ever done.”

She considered the odds of meeting McMahon and how close she was to missing out on a beautiful lifelong experience. “Still feels improbable,” she wrote. “What if I’d missed the plane or was assigned to a different seat?” Despite the odds stacked against them, the pair met and have never looked back.