Pete Hegseth’s Tattoos Spark Insider Threat Allegations

Pete Hegseth’s Tattoos Spark Insider Threat Allegations \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has been nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense. His nomination is under fire due to concerns over tattoos allegedly linked to extremist groups, his downplaying of extremism within the military, and controversial past remarks defending the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters. Critics also question his support for pardoned war criminals and his rejection of military justice norms, raising doubts about his suitability for the role.

Pete Hegseth’s Nomination for Defense Secretary: Quick Looks

• Nomination: Trump nominates Fox News host Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary.
• Tattoos Flagged: A fellow Guard member raised insider threat concerns over one tattoo.
• Capitol Riot: Hegseth has minimized Jan. 6’s seriousness and defended rioters.
• Extremism Stance: Hegseth opposes Pentagon efforts to address extremism in the military.
• Support for War Criminals: Advocated for pardons of convicted war criminals under Trump.
• Military Career: Served nearly 20 years, earning two Bronze Stars for his service.

Deep Look

Pete Hegseth, a decorated Army National Guard veteran and well-known Fox News host, has been nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense. However, his nomination is mired in controversy, ranging from tattoos allegedly linked to extremist groups to his staunch criticism of efforts to address extremism within the military. If confirmed, Hegseth would lead a department still grappling with the fallout from military involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots and the broader issue of extremist ideologies in its ranks.

Tattoo Controversy and Insider Threat Allegations

A significant issue in Hegseth’s nomination involves a tattoo on his bicep bearing the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” (God Wills It), a slogan tied to the Crusades. While often associated with religious devotion, the phrase has also been appropriated by far-right and white supremacist groups to signal anti-Muslim sentiment.

In January 2021, Retired Master Sgt. DeRicko Gaither, then serving as the D.C. National Guard’s security manager, flagged Hegseth as a potential “insider threat” due to the tattoo’s extremist associations. Gaither raised his concerns in an email to the Guard’s commanding general, Maj. Gen. William Walker, suggesting the phrase’s ties to extremist ideologies warranted further scrutiny.

“This falls along the line of Insider Threat,” Gaither wrote, emphasizing the need to assess whether Hegseth’s tattoos reflected extremist affiliations.

Hegseth has dismissed these allegations, claiming he was unfairly targeted due to his political views and military role. While some experts argue the tattoo could reflect personal faith, others highlight its use by extremists, including Anders Breivik, a far-right terrorist who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011, and the Allen, Texas, shooter in 2023.

Biden Inauguration and Background Checks

Hegseth has also drawn attention for his removal from security duties during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in January 2021. He claimed he was barred from participating due to a cross tattoo on his chest, but Gaither clarified that his concerns were about the “Deus Vult” tattoo, not the cross.

The exclusion of Hegseth came amid heightened security concerns following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Over 25,000 National Guard members were deployed to Washington, D.C., and underwent rigorous background checks to vet for potential extremist ties. Twelve Guardsmen were ultimately barred from the inauguration due to red flags, though it is unclear whether Hegseth was officially among them.

Minimizing Extremism in the Military

Hegseth has been an outspoken critic of the Pentagon’s efforts to address extremism within the military ranks, frequently dismissing the issue as a “manufactured” problem. In his book The War on Warriors, he accused military leadership of pushing out “rank-and-file patriots” and characterized anti-extremism initiatives as promoting the “lie of racism in the military.”

The Pentagon, under current Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, has worked to address extremism following reports that over 230 military veterans and 20 active-duty personnel were involved in the Jan. 6 attack. Studies by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) found that plots involving individuals with military training were more likely to involve mass casualties, underscoring the importance of addressing radical ideologies within the ranks.

Hegseth, however, has dismissed such concerns, labeling them a distraction. On Fox News, he has defended Jan. 6 participants as “patriots” who “love their country” and were reacting to what he described as leftist overreach.

Support for War Criminals and Disregard for Military Justice

Hegseth’s tenure in the military, while distinguished, has also raised questions about his adherence to military justice norms. In a podcast interview, Hegseth recounted disregarding rules of engagement outlined by military lawyers during his 2005 deployment to Iraq, telling his platoon to prioritize “engaging the enemy” over strict compliance with regulations.

Hegseth has also been an outspoken advocate for service members accused of war crimes. In 2019, he successfully lobbied Trump to pardon several individuals, including an Army lieutenant convicted of ordering his men to kill unarmed Afghan detainees and a Navy SEAL who posed with the corpse of an Islamic State prisoner.

“All they do is take one incident and yell ‘war criminal,’” Hegseth said, defending the pardons. “Why wouldn’t we back these guys up even if they weren’t perfect?”

Capitol Riot Defense and Media Role

Hegseth’s public commentary on the Jan. 6 Capitol riots has further polarized opinions about his nomination. While federal prosecutors and military leaders condemned the assault, Hegseth downplayed the event’s seriousness, calling the participants “people who love freedom” and portraying them as victims of political persecution.

On Fox News, Hegseth aired misleading footage that sought to downplay the actions of Jacob Chansley, the so-called “QAnon Shaman.” Despite Chansley’s guilty plea to a felony charge for obstructing an official proceeding, Hegseth described his treatment by the justice system as “disgusting.”

“Trump, Chansley, and many more… the Left wants us all locked up,” Hegseth wrote in a Facebook post accompanying the footage.

Implications for Defense Leadership

If confirmed as Secretary of Defense, Hegseth would assume leadership of a sprawling department tasked with addressing extremism, maintaining military discipline, and navigating complex global challenges. Critics argue his dismissive stance on extremism, support for controversial pardons, and inflammatory rhetoric undermine his credibility to lead an institution requiring impartiality and accountability.

As the Senate considers Hegseth’s nomination, the broader implications of his leadership—both within the military and for the nation—will be closely scrutinized.

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