Online uproar over Trump's Defence Secretary pick Pete Hegseth's tattoo
Image credit: X/ @ClaireFosterPHD
US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth is in headlines and a topic of discussion on social media because of his chest tattoo, a Jerusalem cross.
The former Fox News host has many tattoos on his body. Still, this particular one became the talk of the town once again after 2021, when Hegseth was denied working on the security team for President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. Many high-ranking military officials thought the tattoo was an extremist symbol.
A few months ago, Hegseth himself claimed this on a podcast show. "I was deemed an extremist because of a tattoo by my National Guard unit in Washington," Hegseth said in the podcast "The Shawn Ryan Show."
"Jerusalem cross tattoo, it's just a Christian symbol," he added.
What's The Tattoo?
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The tattoo on Hegseth's chest is an image of the Jerusalem cross with four small crosses on each corner of the cross. He has another tattoo on his bicep that says "Deus Vult," which means God wills it.
An X user, also a Democrat supporter, shared the image of Hegseth with the tattoo and wrote, "Trump secretary of defence...are we supposed to pretend that isn't a Swastika?"
Trumps secretary of defense.... are we supposed to pretend that isn't a SWASTIKA ???? pic.twitter.com/6hPugvNCtr — Claire (@ClaireFosterPHD) November 14, 2024
Countering the post, another X user (And a Republican supporter) wrote, "Democrats think this is a Swastika."
Democrats think this is a Swastika 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/tnDQIKLWzk — The Gay Republican 🇺🇲✝️🇮🇱 (@GayRepublicSwag) November 14, 2024
An Appreciator of Jews
Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran and according to his website has served in Afghanistan, Iraq Guantanamo Bay and Cuba.
Before joining Fox News, he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012.
In his coverage on the news channel, Hegseth has been an advocate of Israel.
In 2016, during an interview with the Jewish Press, Hegseth said, "This is not some mystical land that can be dismissed." He was referring to biblical and historical sites in Israel.
Hegseth's Controversial Remarks
Hegseth recently shared various controversial remarks such as firing "woke generals" in the military and also spoke against the combat role of women in the military, The Times of India reported.
(With inputs from agencies)