What do Pete Hegseth's US Army tattoos symbolize?
Executive summary
Pete Hegseth’s tattoos are a mix of Christian, military and patriotic symbols — including a large Jerusalem (Crusader) cross on his chest, the Latin phrase “Deus vult,” Greek letters chi‑rho, a military unit coat of arms, an AR‑15 image and an Arabic word often read as kafir (“infidel”) — which critics say can carry militant or anti‑Muslim connotations while defenders emphasize service and faith references [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Reporting shows some tattoos are historically tied to the Crusades and have been adopted by extremist groups in recent years, while other ink clearly references Hegseth’s Army service and regiment [1] [6] [3].
1. The visible inventory — what the tattoos are
Multiple outlets catalog Hegseth’s right‑arm and chest ink: a prominent Jerusalem (Crusader) cross on his chest; the Latin phrase “Deus vult” on his biceps; Greek chi (X) and rho (P) letters in a circle on his upper arm; the 187th Infantry Regiment coat of arms on his shoulder; an AR‑15 stylized into an American flag motif; Hebrew lettering reading “Yeshua” and the word “We the People”; and an Arabic word widely reported as kafir, meaning “infidel” or “nonbeliever” [1] [2] [3] [4].
2. Military and patriotic meanings plainly asserted
Several pieces are straightforward military identifiers. Hegseth’s shoulder features the 187th Infantry Regiment insignia with its motto “Ne Desit Virtus,” and media reporting notes he has said the AR‑15 image represents the rifle he carried in Iraq — explicit references to unit and service rather than ideology [3] [2].
3. Christian symbolism and historical context
The Jerusalem cross and chi‑rho are long‑standing Christian symbols. Journalistic analysis traces the Jerusalem cross to Crusader and pilgrimage traditions; chi‑rho is an early Christogram. These symbols can signify religious faith or pilgrimage historically, but their historical roots are explicitly tied to the Crusades, which informs later readings [1].
4. Where controversy and extremist associations arise
Reporting and watchdogs document that some symbols on Hegseth’s body — notably “Deus vult” and the Jerusalem cross — have been appropriated by far‑right and Christian‑nationalist groups, and were cited by a colleague who flagged the tattoo as a possible “insider threat” in 2021. News outlets and fact‑checks say those phrases and images are “often associated” with extremist groups today, even when they also have older religious meanings [6] [7] [1].
5. The Arabic word: contested reading and reaction
Photos published by the Secretary of Defense’s social account drew attention to Arabic script that multiple outlets read as كافر (kafir) — translated as “infidel” or “nonbeliever.” Muslim advocacy groups and some reporters called this potentially Islamophobic and offensive to service members; Hegseth’s critics highlighted the implications for morale and inclusion, while defenders note he is a public figure with personal tattoos [4] [8].
6. Media interpretations differ; sources present competing views
Fact‑checkers (Snopes, PolitiFact, Poynter) and mainstream reporting document the dual readings: news outlets emphasize military and faith explanations for much of the ink, while other analyses (New Lines Magazine, Guardian coverage) stress the Crusading and contemporary extremist uses of some symbols. That split — historical/religious meaning versus modern extremist appropriation — frames most of the disagreement in coverage [5] [1] [8] [7].
7. What the sources do and do not say about intent
Available reporting catalogs the symbols and notes associations; none of the cited sources definitively proves Hegseth’s personal intent to signal extremist ideology. Some sources report colleagues or watchdogs raised flags because certain phrases have been used by extremist actors, but explicit evidence of Hegseth endorsing those movements is not established in the cited reporting [6] [7]. Available sources do not mention a public statement from Hegseth explaining each tattoo’s intent in detail.
8. Why the debate matters for a Defense Secretary
Coverage stresses the practical stakes: a defense leader’s visible symbols matter to service members of diverse faiths and to assessments of insider risk — which is why a fellow guard member flagged the “Deus vult” tattoo in 2021 and why advocacy groups reacted to the Arabic word. Sources link the controversy to questions about unit cohesion, representation and vetting, not merely aesthetics [6] [4].
Bottom line: Hegseth’s tattoos combine obvious military and religious imagery and a contentious Arabic word; journalists and fact‑checkers agree the ink has historical Christian and service meanings while also noting that some elements have been repurposed by extremist groups — the reporting documents symbolism and associations but does not provide conclusive evidence about his personal intent for each tattoo [1] [6] [4] [5].