Trey Yingst's parents' nationality explained: Are they American?
Many people have been curious about Trey Yingst’s parents’ nationality given his role as a Fox News foreign correspondent. Debbie and Gerald Donald Yingst, both American, quietly shaped their son’s path from Pennsylvania to the frontlines of global reporting.
Source: Twitter
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Trey Yingst’s mom, Debbie Ann Lee Yingst, and his father, Gerald Donald Yingst, are American.
- The Fox News correspondent was born and raised in Pennsylvania, United States.
- Debbie Ann Lee Yingst passed away in 2022 following health complications.
Profile summary
| Full name | Trey Yingst |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 10 September 1993 |
| Age | 31 years old (as of June 2025) |
| Zodiac sign | Virgo |
| Place of birth | Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Current residence | Jerusalem, Israel |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5'10" (178 cm) |
| Hair colour | Brown |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Mother | Debbie Ann Lee Yingst |
| Father | Gerald Donald Yingst |
| Siblings | 1 |
| School | Central Dauphin High School |
| University | American University |
| Profession | Journalist, Chief Foreign Correspondent for Fox News |
| Social media | InstagramFacebookX (Twitter)LinkedIn |
Exploring Trey Yingst's parents' nationality
Trey Yingst’s parents are Americans with deep roots in Pennsylvania. His mother, Debbie Ann Lee Yingst, was the daughter of Mary Margaret Yingst, who was born in Breezewood, Pennsylvania, highlighting Debbie’s American background.
His father, Gerald Donald Yingst, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, according to White Pages, which further confirms their American nationality. When Deborah passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 2022, Trey shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, writing:
My mother, Debbie Yingst, passed away on Thanksgiving Day. She was an incredible human who taught me so much about empathy and selflessness. She spent years as a social worker and loved helping people.
Source: Original
Trey Yingst's father keeps a low profile
Despite being the father of one of America’s most recognised journalists, Gerald Donald Yingst keeps a low profile. He has quietly supported his son’s career throughout the years.
On Father’s Day 2023, Trey celebrated his father on X (Twitter) with a travel photo, writing:
Happy Father’s Day. Looking forward to our next adventure.
What happened to Trey Yingst's mother?
She battled kidney disease and spent three months in a coma before passing away. While the exact cause of death was not publicly disclosed, she was a cancer survivor.
Source: UGC
Trey Yingst’s mother was deeply committed to community service
According to PennLive, the late Debbie Ann Yingst earned a degree in social work from the University of Tennessee and was deeply committed to community service.
Debbie was a member of Ikebana International and the Linglestown Garden Club. She worked as a substitute teacher in the Central Dauphin School District and once led the parent-teacher organisation.
Trey shared on his X (Twitter) handle about his mother:
A little about my mom. She’s kind and funny. As a former photographer, social worker and substitute teacher, she loves people. She’s battled kidney disease her whole life, beat cancer and once spent 3 months in a coma. Through it all, she’s been resilient. Love you, mom. Always.
Source: Facebook
Their son is dedicated to his journalism career
Known for his passion for journalism, Yingst co-founded News2Share with Ford Fischer while studying at an American University. Through the platform, he reported from Gaza, Ukraine, Rwanda and Uganda.
Yingst's Fox News profile says he also had the privilege of working with One America News Network as their Chief White House Correspondent. He joined Fox News’ international correspondent team in 2018, and by 2019, he was on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for Media.
He earned the George Weidenfeld Prize in April 2024 and the RTDNA First Amendment Award in March 2025. In an Instagram post he shared to celebrate the award, he said:
Honored to win the First Amendment Award from the RTDNA. Over the past several years, my team and I have reported from nearly 20 different countries. The credit for this recognition belongs to the Murdoch family, the Fox executive team and my crew. We're just getting started.
Source: Twitter
What languages does Trey Yingst speak?
The American journalist is multilingual, with proficiency in English, Spanish, and Arabic. According to his LinkedIn profile, these language skills have supported his work while anchoring in Israel and reporting across the Middle East.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is Trey Yingst's sister? The reporter’s sister is Aly, though little is publicly known about her.
- What is Trey Yingst's family's heritage? His family has an American heritage with long-established roots in Pennsylvania.
- What is Trey Yingst's nationality? The foreign correspondent is American.
- Is Trey Yingst married? He appears to be single, with no public record of a spouse or partner.
- Does Trey Yingst still work for Fox News? The award-winning correspondent still works for Fox News and was recently promoted to Chief Foreign Correspondent.
Trey Yingst's parents' nationality is reportedly American, with both having deep roots in Pennsylvania. Their background and quiet support have shaped the journalist's path from a small-town upbringing to global reporting for Fox News.
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Source: Briefly News
