After images of contentious tattoos from a recent military drill at Pearl Harbor surfaced, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth came under fire.
Hegseth has the Arabic term “kafir” inscribed beneath his right bicep, according to the pictures that were made public last week. The phrase, which is found in the Quran, describes a person who rejects or disbelieves in God.
Near another inscription that reads “Deus Vult,” a Latin phrase traditionally connected to the First Crusade, is the Arabic tattoo.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations’ (CAIR) national executive director, Nihad Awad, responded with a scathing statement.
According to Awad, “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
Openly identifying as a Christian, Pete Hegseth often highlights the profound impact his faith has on his personal life and public character.
In addition to being reflected in his words, his religious ideas are permanently inked on his body in the form of several tattoos that express his worldview, patriotism, and beliefs. Important religious symbols are among these tattoos. He has “Deus Vult,” which is Latin for “God wills it” and has been linked to the First Crusade, on his bicep.
He also has a tattoo of a cross and a sword, which is a personal interpretation of the Bible passage Matthew 10:34, which reads, “not peace, but a sword.”
Hegseth claims that his discharge from National Guard duty during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 was influenced by the Jerusalem cross, another well-known tattoo that dates back to the Crusades.
Things to Be Aware of
Both tattoos have been widely condemned by critics who saw them as anti-Muslim emblems, and that specific saying has long been associated with violent religious campaigns carried out decades ago.
Hegseth has highlighted the significance of the tattoo as a representation of his Christian beliefs by describing one of the designs at the time as a Jerusalem Cross.
Secretary Hegseth has yet to publicly address the recently leaked photos or the reaffirmed accusations as condemnation grows.
