Additional Coverage:
A National Guardsman previously reported that Pete Hegseth, a potential pick for the Department of Defense, had a “Deus Vult” tattoo, which has ties to white nationalist groups.
However, Hegseth claimed that the complaint was about a Jerusalem Cross tattoo on his chest, which is not associated with white nationalism. The Guardsman clarified that his complaint was solely about the “Deus Vult” tattoo on Hegseth’s bicep.
The complaint arose during a period when the military was investigating the involvement of service members in the Capitol riots. The Guardsman emphasized that his concern was based on the potential security risk posed by the tattoo’s association with extremist groups.
Hegseth responded by accusing the media of targeting Christians and conservatives. He vowed to stop such “targeting” if appointed to the Department of Defense.