Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s tattoos have been decoded
Deciphering the tattoos of Donald Trump’s Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth.
November 13, 2024, published at 8:20 PM ET
The reaction to Donald Trump’s controversial choice as Secretary of Defense has led to a deep dive into candidate Pete Hegseth’s background, including his numerous tattoos.
RadarOnline.com can reveal the meaning behind Hegseth’s tattoos — which led to him being labeled an “extremist” — as top Pentagon officials criticized the president-elect for nominating the Fox News host to oversee the Ministry of Defense.
Hegseth, 44, is an Army National Guard veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq — earning him a double Bronze Star award — and a host of Fox & Friends since 2017.
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Hegseth has more than a dozen tattoos, including “We the People” on his forearm.
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Although the 44-year-old has more than a dozen tattoos on his chest and right arm, he only recently started inking his body after his father discouraged him from getting tattoos at a young age.
Since then, his choice of body art has sparked controversy, especially during his military career.
In 2021, while serving in the Minnesota National Guard, Hegseth’s unit was deployed to Washington DC to protect Joe Biden at his inauguration; However, Hegseth was ordered to resign, reportedly because of his Jerusalem cross tattoo.
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Hegseth claimed he was called an ‘extremist’ because of his large Jerusalem cross tattoo.
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The tattoo was one of Hegseth’s largest, covering the right side of his chest. It contained a large black cross and four additional smaller crosses in each quadrant.
When ordered to resign in 2021, Hegseth said, “I was deemed an extremist due to a tattoo by my National Guard unit in Washington DC and my orders were revoked to guard Biden’s inauguration.
Although the Jerusalem Cross is a symbol dating back to the 13th century and the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusades, it has since been considered controversial in modern times due to its ties to Christian nationalism.
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The candidate’s ink for Secretary of Defense would represent his faith, military service and patriotism.
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While Hegseth’s tattoos are said to represent his faith, military service and patriotism, several have eyebrow-raising tattoos.
On his right bicep, the Fox News host has the words “Deus Vult” tattooed underneath an American flag and a firearm. The phrase, which means “God wills it,” emerged as a Christian rallying cry during the First Crusades, but has since been adopted by far-right groups.
Hegseth also features the snake from Benjamin Franklin’s famous political cartoon “Join or Die,” which featured a dismembered snake to represent the American colonies as a call for unity in the fight against the Native Americans and the French.
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Elsewhere on his body, Hegseth has “We the People” and 1775 tattooed, as well as a cross with a sword through it representing the Bible verse Matthew 10:34.
The verse reads, “Do not think that I have come to send peace on earth. I have not come to send peace, but a sword.”
Hegseth said it was his first tattoo, which he got on a whim while on vacation with his family.
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Hegseth has the phrase “Deus Vult,” meaning “God wills it,” on his bicep, which has recently been adopted by far-right groups.
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As RadarOnline.com reported, Pentagon officials reacted with shock and outrage after Trump announced his nomination.
Eric Edelman, who served as the Pentagon’s top policy official during the Bush administration, said:[Trump] put the highest value of loyalty.
“It seems like one of the main criteria being used is how well do people defend Donald Trump on television?”
One defense industry lobbyist was more blunt in his criticism of Hegseth, saying, “Who is this guy?”
The unnamed lobbyist said they initially hoped Trump would “nominate someone who actually has an extensive background in defense,” adding, “That would be a good start,” according Politics.
