A shocking image of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ignited fierce controversy, exposing what critics call his extremist mindset. The viral photo, posted on social media platform X, reveals a tattoo on his arm with the Arabic word Kafir (infidel), alongside a Crusader war cry—raising concerns over his ideological leanings.
According to international media, the image has sparked widespread debate, with many calling it a clear reflection of Hegseth’s radical views. The tattoo, displaying the Arabic word Kafir, is widely understood to mean “disbeliever” or an opponent of Islam.
The tattoo is positioned alongside another inscription reading Deus Vult—a Latin phrase historically associated with the Crusades. This phrase, meaning “God wills it,” was used as a rallying cry by Christian forces during the medieval religious wars and has since been adopted by far-right extremist groups.
Hegseth, a former U.S. Army officer and Fox News contributor, is now facing backlash after recent photos from military drills at Pearl Harbor surfaced, showing his controversial tattoos.
Islamic scholar Abdullah Al-Andalusi highlighted that Kafir is a term traditionally used in religious contexts to describe someone who rejects true faith. Critics argue that pairing this Arabic word with a Crusader slogan reinforces Hegseth’s alignment with extremist views.
In a past interview with former Navy SEAL and podcaster Shawn Ryan, Hegseth claimed that concerns over his “extremist” tattoos were the reason he was removed from National Guard deployment during President Joe Biden’s inauguration.
He defended his tattoos, particularly the Jerusalem Cross, which he described as a symbol of his Christian faith.
Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), condemned the tattoo, stating:
“It appears that Islam occupies so much space in Pete Hegseth’s mind that he felt the need to permanently mark his body in opposition to it, while simultaneously glorifying the Crusaders.”
The controversy intensified after reports surfaced that Hegseth and other senior officials had allegedly discussed sensitive U.S. military operations via a publicly accessible messaging app. In a blunder, they reportedly included The Atlantic’s Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg in the conversation. When questioned about the security breach, Hegseth dismissed it, calling Goldberg a “liar” and refusing to comment further.
Additionally, a New Yorker report from December alleged that in 2015, while working with the Concerned Veterans for America, Hegseth was heard shouting, “Kill all Muslims! Kill them all!” at an Ohio bar. His legal representatives have denied these allegations.
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