Dana Perino, widely recognized for her work as a political commentator and former White House Press Secretary, has a personal love story that feels straight out of a romantic comedy.
In 1997, she boarded a flight to Chicago without any idea that she was about to meet the man who would become her husband, Peter McMahon. The encounter was completely unexpected—and it almost didn’t happen.
Both Perino and McMahon were running late that day, and as fate would have it, they were the last two passengers to board. The only available seats left on the plane were right next to each other.
That twist of timing led to an unforgettable meeting. McMahon made an immediate impression. During a conversation with the American Enterprise Institute, Perino recounted how he asked if he could place his bag in the overhead compartment above them.
She turned to him and immediately noticed his British accent. With a bit of humor, she recalled thinking, “accent,” as she looked at him. The accent was just the first thing that caught her attention—she soon realized he was attractive and wasn’t wearing a wedding ring.
Throughout the duration of the flight, her interest in McMahon only grew stronger. But once the plane landed, they had to go their separate ways.
McMahon was from the UK, and they had no way of knowing what the future would hold. Still, Perino gave him her contact information before they parted. Days passed with no word from him. Then, after ten days, just when she was beginning to let go of the idea, McMahon finally sent her an email.
Within ten months of that chance meeting on a flight, Perino made a life-changing decision—she moved to England to be with him.
Dana kept a hidden truth from her partner
Dana Perino and Peter McMahon tied the knot in 1998, and more than 25 years later, their marriage remains strong. Their 18-year age gap was something Perino initially struggled with, admitting she had serious doubts early on.
“I’m only 25. He’s 43. What are we going to do… this can’t be possible,” she recalled thinking. In a conversation with the American Enterprise Institute, she shared that she had plenty of reasons to talk herself out of the relationship.
Another challenge was McMahon living in England, especially as Perino stood on the verge of a major career shift. In a Fox News opinion piece, she reflected on their relationship saying: “best decision [she] ever made,”
Perino has often thought about how unlikely it all seemed—the timing, the circumstances, the chance encounter. “Still feels improbable,” she wrote. “What if I’d missed the plane or was assigned to a different seat?” Yet, against all odds, they met—and have built a life together without ever looking back.
