President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has come under fire from the Associated Press (AP) over allegations that he sports a tattoo linked to white supremacy.
The AP report, authored by Tara Copp, claims that one of Hegseth’s tattoos is associated with extremist groups, but Hegseth has denounced these accusations as “anti-Christian bigotry,” emphasizing the religious meaning behind the ink.
The controversy centers around a tattoo on Hegseth’s bicep featuring the Latin phrase “Deus Vult,” which translates to “God wills it.” This phrase has historical roots in the Crusades, where it was used as a rallying cry by Catholic knights.
However, in recent years, it has been appropriated by some far-right and white supremacist groups, leading to its controversial modern connotation.
In her social media post on X, Copp noted that Hegseth “was flagged as a possible ‘Insider Threat’ by a fellow service member due to a tattoo he has that’s associated with white supremacists,” and shared a link to the report.
Hegseth emphasized that the tattoo is a reference to his Christian beliefs, not any extremist ideology. He further stated, “They can target me — I don’t give a damn —