Following the emergence of controversial tattoos from a recent military exercise at Pearl Harbor, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth faced significant criticism.
Images released last week reveal that Hegseth has the Arabic term “kafir” tattooed beneath his right bicep. This term, which appears in the Quran, refers to an individual who denies or disbelieves in God.
Adjacent to this tattoo is another inscription that reads “Deus Vult,” a Latin phrase historically linked to the First Crusade.
Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), issued a sharp rebuke. He stated, “It appears that Islam occupies such a prominent place in Pete Hegseth’s thoughts that he feels compelled to permanently mark his disapproval of Islam and express his admiration for the failed Crusaders, who perpetrated violent acts against Jews, Muslims, and even fellow Christians centuries ago.”
Background Information
Pete Hegseth, who openly identifies as a Christian, frequently emphasizes the significant role his faith plays in both his personal life and public image.
His religious convictions are not only evident in his speech but are also permanently inscribed on his body through various tattoos that reflect his worldview, patriotism, and beliefs. Among these tattoos are significant religious symbols, including “Deus Vult,” which translates to “God wills it” and is associated with the First Crusade. He also bears a tattoo of a cross and a sword, representing his interpretation of the biblical verse Matthew 10:34, which states, “not peace, but a sword.”
Hegseth asserts that his removal from National Guard duty during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 was influenced by another prominent tattoo, the Jerusalem cross, which also dates back to the Crusades.
Important Considerations
Both tattoos have faced widespread condemnation from critics who perceive them as anti-Muslim symbols, with the specific phrase being historically associated with violent religious campaigns from centuries past.Hegseth has emphasized the importance of the tattoo as a symbol of his Christian faith, referring to one of the designs as a Jerusalem Cross during that period.
Secretary Hegseth has not made any public comments regarding the recently surfaced photos or the revived allegations as criticism intensifies.
