Have credible news outlets or public records verified claims about Hegseth's tattoos?
Executive summary
Reporting from multiple outlets confirms Pete Hegseth has several tattoos linked to the Crusades — notably a large Jerusalem cross on his chest and a “Deus vult” inscription — and one Arabic-script tattoo widely reported as reading “kafir” (infidel); outlets say those images prompted scrutiny and were cited when he was removed from a 2021 inauguration detail [1] [2] [3] [4]. Fact-checkers and long-form coverage conclude he does not have explicitly Nazi insignia, though commentators and analysts interpret the Crusader imagery as part of a broader Christian-nationalist or far‑right iconography [2] [5].
1. What reporters and fact‑checkers have verified
Mainstream fact‑checking outlets have examined social‑media claims and concluded Hegseth does not display Nazi symbols, while confirming he has Crusades‑related tattoos: Snopes and another Snopes update state he has at least two tattoos referencing the Crusades (including the Jerusalem cross and “Deus vult”) and that the Nazi‑tattoo charge is incorrect [2]. NPR and Poynter directly identify the Jerusalem cross and the Latin phrase “Deus vult” on Hegseth, and Reuters/AP coverage cited by other outlets has traced the provenance of the controversy to those specific images [1] [6].
2. The Arabic‑script tattoo and how outlets described it
Several news outlets reported a newly prominent tattoo in Arabic script that critics read as saying “kafir” (infidel). The Guardian published photos and described the Arabic tattoo as appearing to read “kafir,” noting critics called it a “clear symbol of Islamophobia” and that the image appeared on official social media posts of the Secretary of Defense account [3]. Local and regional outlets likewise flagged the Arabic ink and said its presence inflamed concern when seen next to militaristic Christian tattoos [7].
3. The inauguration removal: official records and reporting
Reporting shows Hegseth was barred from a National Guard role at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration after at least one guard member flagged a tattoo as potentially extremist. Coverage by Axios and Poynter traces that episode to disputed accounts: Hegseth has said a Jerusalem cross tattoo led to the denial, while other reporting and the AP indicate the “Deus vult” phrase was explicitly highlighted by a guard member as tied to extremist groups — the Guard declined to comment to PolitiFact, and the specific internal documentation is not publicly released in the sources [4] [6].
4. Interpretations diverge: religious symbol vs. political messaging
Long‑form analysis and opinion pieces place Hegseth’s ink in different frames. New Lines Magazine and other critics argue the Jerusalem cross and related imagery form a coherent Crusader or militant‑Christian iconography embraced by parts of the far right [5]. Hegseth and allies characterize the same tattoos as expressions of personal faith or American military heritage; reporting records that Hegseth called criticism “anti‑Christian bigotry” [6] [8]. Both positions appear in the public record documented above [5] [6] [8].
5. What fact‑checkers and journalists do not (yet) resolve
Available sources do not provide a publicly released, authenticated translation or signed admission from Hegseth confirming the precise intended meaning or origin of every tattoo; some coverage notes that the exact translation of the contested Arabic tattoo has not been confirmed by Hegseth himself [7]. Internal National Guard adjudications or full contemporaneous documentation explaining the 2021 decision have not been made public in the cited reporting, so some administrative details remain unavailable [6].
6. Why the debate matters — context and implications
Journalists and analysts point out the symbolic stakes: Crusader imagery and “Deus vult” have been adopted in recent years by extremist actors and were visible at the Jan. 6 rally, which is why military reviewers and civil‑society watchdogs flagged such tattoos as potential indicators of ideological risk [4] [6]. Conversely, supporters argue tattoos are private religious or historical identifiers and that accusations risk politicizing personal expression [6] [8]. Both strands are documented in the sources.
7. Bottom line for readers
Credible news outlets and fact‑checkers have verified the presence of Crusades‑linked tattoos (Jerusalem cross, “Deus vult”) and have reported a contentious Arabic‑script tattoo widely read as “kafir”; they have also debunked claims that Hegseth wears explicit Nazi insignia [1] [2] [3] [4]. Disagreement remains about intent and whether the symbols constitute extremist signaling; the primary public documents and internal Guard records that would definitively settle some administrative questions are not cited in the available reporting [6] [4].