Politics
This is the reason why Pete Hegseth was flagged as a possible “insider threat”: What do his tattoos represent?
The tattoos with marks that have been adopted by Nazis have caused consternation in government as the TV host prepares to be vetted.

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Defense, has come under scrutiny due to his numerous tattoos, the controversy steming from the religious and patriotic symbolism in Hegseth’s body art, which some critics argue represents extremist ideologies.
Hegseth’s tattoos include a mix of Christian and American ‘patriotic’ imagery. On his chest, he sports a “Jerusalem Cross,” consisting of one large cross surrounded by four smaller crosses. The tattoo that has drawn the most controversy is “Deus Vult,” meaning “God Wills It,” which is associated with the Crusades against Islam from the 11th ventury onwards.
“Racists online have adopted a crusader rallying cry, deus vult. Reductive medieval imagery and language shows up in posts by contemporary Islamophobes,” said NPR reporter Neda Ulaby.
While Hegseth claims this represents his Christian faith, critics have associated it with White supremacy and Christian nationalism.
Another notable tattoo is a cross and sword on his arm, referencing Matthew 10:34: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword”. Beneath this, he added “Yeshua,” Jesus’ name in Hebrew. Hegseth also has a Chi-Rho symbol, representing the first two letters of “Christ” in Greek.
Hegseth defends his tattoos as expressions of his faith and patriotism.
“Israel, Christianity and my faith are things I care deeply about,” he stated in a 2020 interview. However, the combination and interpretation of these symbols have raised concerns about potential extremist leanings.
How Hegseth’s upcming hearing might play out
The former TV host faces a battle to be confirmed in the Senate, with the first day of the hearing taking place on 14 January. Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, have expressed concerns about Hegseth’s fitness for the role. Warren stated that his confirmation “would be detrimental to our national security”.
Hegseth’s pick for secretary of defense means he will be under all sorts of scrutiny in these hearings and will be so if he gets the job.
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