Trump's pick for defense secretary has pushed back against claims that his tattoo is a symbol of white supremacy, calling the criticism “anti-Christian bigotry.”
Pete Hegseth, a longtime Fox News host and war veteran, wears a large Jerusalem cross on his chest and the inscription “Deus Vult,” which is Latin for “will of God.”
Some believe that both symbols date back to the Christian Crusades in the Middle East and are common images in Christian symbolism.
Instagram/Peter Hegseth
“The anti-Christian bias in the media is on full display. They could target me, and I don't care, but Christians, conservatives, patriots, and ordinary Americans. This type of targeting will stop on DJT's first day at the Pentagon,” Hegseth said. Said in Friday's X Post.
Mr Hegseth spoke out after reports that he had been flagged as an “insider threat” by colleagues. Army National Guard member He told leadership in 2021 that the “Deus Vult” tattoo was used by white supremacists.
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance criticized Associated Press reporting in a post about X.
“They are attacking Pete Hegseth for having a Christian motto tattooed on his arm. This is disgusting anti-Christian bigotry by the Associated Press and the entire organization should be ashamed.” he wrote.
Hegseth also posted messages he said he received from people who were encouraged by his appointment to head the vast government agency.
“I know you are busy, but I wanted you to know that my 17-year-old, Kyle, is considering joining the Minnesota Army National Guard and has decided to move forward with your nomination. ” he joins. [Military Entrance Processing Station] “At the end of the month,” Hegseth said in a message he received, “It was an honor.”
Hegseth pledged to oppose the Awakening and DEI initiatives adopted by the Pentagon during the Biden administration. His book, “The War on Warriors,” blames woke Pentagon policies that negatively affected military conscription.
The 44-year-old “Fox and Friends” host has served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq and holds degrees from both Princeton and Harvard universities.
This isn't the first time Hegsworth's tattoos have made headlines. In 2021, he claimed he was ordered to resign as one of several National Guard members assigned to President Biden's inauguration because of his Jerusalem cross tattoo.
“The National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., labeled me an extremist because of my tattoos, and my order to guard Biden's inauguration was revoked,” he said in a podcast interview.
“I got a lukewarm phone call from my commander the day before, and he told me, in a major-like manner, that I could quit now. We don't need you, we're fine. What do you mean?” Everybody's there. He said, no, no, I couldn't say it.”
