Pete Hegseth, a U.S. Army veteran and former Fox News co-host, testified Tuesday during his Senate confirmation hearing that he was prevented from working President Biden’s 2021 inauguration due to a tattoo identified as extremist. Hegseth, who was President Donald Trump’s nominee for Defense Secretary, revealed that his military unit flagged him over one of his tattoos, labeling him as an extremist.
Hegseth, who has previously criticized the military for becoming “woke” and argued that women should not serve in combat roles, was grilled by Democrats during his hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The hearing was overshadowed by various allegations against him, including accusations of sexual misconduct and financial mismanagement.
In his testimony, Hegseth responded to questions from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) about the tattoo in question. He claimed that he had volunteered to serve at Biden’s inauguration as a National Guard member, but was denied permission due to a “Christian tattoo.”
The tattoo, which bears the phrase “Deus Vult” (“God wills it”), dates back to the First Crusade and is a Christian battle cry. The phrase, as reported by The Washington Post, was adopted by extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Three Percenters, some of whom were involved in the January 6 Capitol riots.
However, Hegseth clarified that it was not the phrase on his bicep but rather a Jerusalem cross tattoo on his chest that was flagged by his unit. Prior to Biden’s inauguration, the Department of Defense removed 12 National Guard members from their posts as part of heightened security measures amid concerns about extremism following the Capitol insurrection.
When asked about the allegations clouding his confirmation, Hegseth maintained that he was the victim of a “smear campaign” aimed at derailing his nomination.
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