Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is under fire following the emergence of photos showing controversial tattoos during a recent military training exercise at Pearl Harbor.

The images, which surfaced last week, reveal that Hegseth has the Arabic word “kafir” inked beneath his right bicep. The term, which appears in the Quran, refers to an individual who disbelieves or rejects faith in God.

The Arabic tattoo is positioned near another inscription reading “Deus Vult,” a Latin phrase historically associated with the First Crusade.

→ Swipe to see more articles

Related Posts

BREAKING: WNBA in FULL PANIC — LOSING CONTROL as Fever Fans BOYCOTT the League After Caitlin Clark Injury! What the WNBA tried to hide has now been exposed — marking the beginning of what could become the league’s worst nightmare. Sponsors Are Also Asking Questions No One Has Dare to Ask Before. And now, behind the scenes, the WNBA is no longer in control.

Drama Erupts: De Niro Sues Elon Musk, Demands $100 Million for Statements That Cost Him a 2025 Oscar Nomination!

SHOCKING TURN: Things Are TRAGIC for Joel Garner Now at 72—The Heartbreaking Truth Behind His Struggles! At 72 years old, Joel Garner’s life has taken a tragic turn. What’s going on behind the scenes, and how is he coping with the overwhelming challenges? Get the full, heartbreaking details here!

EXPLOSIVE OUTBURST: Angel Reese Goes Wild After Being Benched for Stat Padding—The Arena Erupts as “She’s No Caitlin Clark!” Echoes Through the Crowd!

Greg Gutfeld of Fox News faced harsh criticism from colleagues, who vowed to never work with him again. What was the cause of this?

HOLY SHIT: Taylor Swift Announces Her Opposition to Celebrating Pride Month in June — She Says ‘WOKE’ Doesn’t Deserve to Be Celebrated, Citing…

Nihad Awad, the national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), issued a sharp statement in response.
Pete Hegseth/ Secretary of Defense account on X
“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.

The Context

Pete Hegseth, who openly identifies as a Christian, frequently emphasizes how deeply his faith influences both his personal life and his public persona.

His religious convictions are not only evident in his words but also permanently marked on his body through a number of tattoos that reflect his beliefs, patriotism, and overall worldview. Among these tattoos are significant religious symbols. On his bicep, he has “Deus Vult“—Latin for “God wills it“—a phrase historically associated with the First Crusade.

He also bears a tattoo of a cross paired with a sword, which represents a personal interpretation of Matthew 10:34, a Bible verse that states, “not peace, but a sword.”

Another prominent tattoo is the Jerusalem cross, a symbol from the time of the Crusades, which, according to Hegseth, played a role in his removal from National Guard duties during President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021.

What to Know

That particular slogan has long been tied to violent religious campaigns waged centuries ago, and both tattoos have drawn widespread condemnation from critics who see them as hostile symbols directed toward Muslims.

Hegseth has described one of the tattoos at the time as a Jerusalem Cross, emphasizing its significance as a symbol of his Christian faith.


As criticism mounts, Secretary Hegseth has not issued a public response regarding the newly surfaced images or the renewed allegations.