Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was criticized after photographs of controversial tattoos from a Pearl Harbor drill surfaced.
The photos released last week show Hegseth with the Arabic word “kafir” inscribed beneath his right bicep. Quranic term describes a person who disbelieves in God.
The Arabic tattoo is near “Deus Vult,” a Latin phrase associated with the First Crusade.
It was a harsh response from CAIR national executive director Nihad Awad.
Awad writes, “it seems that Islam is so rent-free in Pete Hegseth’s head that he feels the need to ink his disapproval of Islam and his sympathy for the failed Crusaders, who committed violent crimes against Jews, Muslims, and even fellow Christians centuries ago,” on his body
The Background
Pete Hegseth, a Christian, often discusses how his faith affects his personal and public life.
His religious convictions are expressed in his speech and in various tattoos that show his worldview, patriotism, and ideals. Important religious symbols are tattooed. On his bicep is “Deus Vult,” Latin for “God wills it” and tied to the First Crusade.
His tattoo of a cross and sword is a personal interpretation of Matthew 10:34, which says, “not peace, but a sword.”
Hegseth alleges that the Jerusalem cross, another Crusader tattoo, impacted his dismissal from National Guard duty at President Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
Things to Know
Critics have called both tattoos anti-Muslim emblems, and that term has long been linked to violent religious campaigns from centuries ago.
Hegseth described one tattoo design as a Jerusalem Cross to emphasize its Christian importance.
Secretary Hegseth has not responded publicly to the resurfaced photos or the renewed accusations as criticism grows.
