Pete Hegseth's controversial tattoo sparks 'Islamophobia' concerns around beleaguered Def Sec

The tattoos drew sharp criticism from Muslim advocacy groups.

PUBLISHED MAR 28, 2025

Hegseth, a decorated veteran and former Fox News host, has faced prior accusations of Islamophobia.

Washington D.C.: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing backlash after photos revealed a tattoo of the Arabic word "kafir" — a Koranic term for nonbelievers — alongside the Crusader-era Latin phrase "Deus Vult" ("God wills it"). The tattoos, visible during a Pearl Harbor training exercise, drew sharp criticism from Muslim advocacy groups.

Elon Musk did visit the Pentagon as per schedule but instead of meeting with the joint chiefs, spoke with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) and others.

According to the USA Today, Nihad Awad of the Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the tattoos as "hostile", linking them to the Crusaders' violent history. The controversy follows reports that Hegseth allegedly discussed sensitive military plans on an unsecured app Signal, which inadvertently included 'The Atlantic' editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg.

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Hegseth, a decorated veteran and former Fox News host, has faced prior accusations of Islamophobia, including a 2015 incident where he was reportedly heard drunkenly chanting "Kill All Muslims" — an allegation he disputes. In 2021, he claimed the Army barred him from Biden’s inauguration over "extremist" tattoos, which he described as a Jerusalem Cross symbolizing his Christian faith.

"It appears Islam lives so rent-free in Pete Hegseth’s head that he feels the need to stamp himself with tattoos declaring his opposition to Islam alongside a tattoo declaring his affinity for the failed Crusaders, who committed genocidal acts of violence against Jews, Muslims and even fellow Christians centuries ago," Awad said in a statement.

According to The Guardian, it is estimated that upwards of 5,000 to 6,000 US military members practice Islam.

“This isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing US wars,” posted Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestinian activist in New York.