He returned to Los Angeles, California in 1997 as North American Bureau Chief for the Nine Network. During his time as Channel Nine's U.S. correspondent, Penfold has reported on the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama and Donald Trump presidencies, the 11 September terrorist attacks on America, the earthquake in Haiti, and the 33 miners trapped in Chile. He also spent time with the Australian Army as he reported on the Iraq War and the Australian military's role in Iraq.