If you’ve spent any time watching cable news or following the 2024-2025 political cycle, you’ve probably seen Pete Hegseth. He’s hard to miss. Whether he’s on a Fox News set or sitting before a Senate committee as the Secretary of Defense, he carries a certain intensity. But lately, a specific question has been bubbling up in search bars and social media threads: is Pete Hegseth Jewish?
The confusion makes sense if you’re just looking at the surface. He talks about Israel constantly. He has a tattoo in Hebrew. He’s been seen at the Western Wall more times than some locals. Honestly, if you didn’t know his background, you might assume he has deep ancestral roots in the Jewish faith.
But the reality is different.
The Short Answer: No, Pete Hegseth is Not Jewish
To be blunt: No. Pete Hegseth is not Jewish by ethnicity or by religion. He is a devout, conservative Christian.
While the question of whether someone is Jewish can sometimes be a complex "it's complicated" situation involving lineage or conversion, Hegseth has been very transparent about his identity. During his Senate confirmation hearing in January 2025, he explicitly stated, "I’m a Christian and I robustly support the state of Israel."
His family background is actually rooted in Northern Europe. He’s of Norwegian descent, born in Minneapolis to Brian and Penelope "Penny" Hegseth. Growing up in a Baptist-influenced household, his childhood was more about Midwestern values and Sunday service than anything else.
So, where did the confusion come from?
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Why Everyone Asks the Question
People don't just pull these questions out of thin air. There are three main reasons why "is Pete Hegseth Jewish" stays at the top of the search trends.
1. That Hebrew Tattoo
Hegseth has a lot of ink. One specific tattoo on his arm says "Yeshua" in Hebrew script ($ישוע$). For those who aren't fluent, that’s the Hebrew name for Jesus.
To a casual observer, seeing Hebrew letters on a man’s bicep usually suggests a Jewish identity. But for Hegseth, it’s about the "Judeo" part of the Judeo-Christian tradition. He views Jesus through a historical lens, often emphasizing the Middle Eastern, Jewish origins of the Christian savior.
2. He’s a "Christian Zionist"
This is a term that gets thrown around a lot, often as a label or even an insult by his critics. During his confirmation, a protester even screamed it at him. Hegseth didn't flinch. In fact, when Senator Tom Cotton asked him if he considered himself a Christian Zionist, Hegseth essentially said "yes" by reaffirming his "robust" support for Israel’s defense.
His support for Israel isn't just about modern geopolitics. It's biblical. He has famously said that the story of Israel is "the story of God’s chosen people." He doesn't see Israel as just another country; he sees it as a fulfillment of prophecy.
3. His Presence in Israel
Hegseth doesn't just talk about the Holy Land; he goes there. A lot. He’s filmed specials for Fox Nation like The Life of Jesus and Battle in the Holy Land. He has toured Joseph’s Tomb in the West Bank and walked through the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem’s Old City. When people see a public figure constantly advocating for Jewish sovereignty and visiting Jewish holy sites, they naturally start wondering about that person's own heritage.
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The "Jerusalem Cross" Controversy
You can't talk about Pete Hegseth's identity without mentioning the chest tattoo that almost cost him his spot at the 2021 inauguration. It’s a large Jerusalem Cross—one big cross surrounded by four smaller ones.
Critics and some military "insider threat" trackers flagged it as a symbol associated with white nationalism or extremist "Crusader" imagery. Hegseth, however, maintains it’s just a historic Christian symbol.
He told the press it was the reason he was "dinged" and told to stay away from Biden’s inauguration security detail. To him, the cross represents his faith and the history of Jerusalem. To his detractors, it represents a "Deus Vult" (God Wills It) mentality that feels too much like a holy war.
His Church: The Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches
If you want to understand what Hegseth actually believes, look at where he sits on Sunday. He is a member of a church within the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC).
This isn't your average "feel-good" suburban megachurch. The CREC is a very conservative, patriarchal, and "archconservative" network of congregations. They believe in something called "Classical Christian Education." They are big on tradition, often rejecting modern secular influences entirely.
His pastor, Brooks Potteiger, even prayed at a service Hegseth hosted at the Pentagon. This specific brand of Christianity is what drives his politics. It’s a worldview that sees the West as a "Greco-Roman-Christian" civilization that needs to be defended from "pagan" or secular forces.
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The Verdict on His Heritage
So, let's recap the facts.
- Ethnicity: Norwegian-American.
- Upbringing: Baptist/Protestant in Minnesota.
- Current Faith: Reformed Evangelical Christian.
- Politics: Strongly pro-Israel (Zionist).
Basically, Pete Hegseth is the quintessential example of a modern American "Christian Zionist." He loves the Jewish state, he studies the Hebrew roots of his faith, and he wears symbols of Jerusalem on his skin. But he isn't Jewish.
He’s a man who has "found" his faith later in life—around 2018, according to his own accounts—and has since made it the centerpiece of his public persona. He views himself as an "American Crusader," a term he used in his 2020 book.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re trying to keep track of how Hegseth’s faith impacts his role as Secretary of Defense, it’s worth looking into the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches to understand their stance on military service and "just war" theory. Their "All of Christ for All of Life" motto is a great starting point for seeing how Hegseth might approach policy through a religious lens.
Checking out his books, specifically American Crusade and Battle for the American Mind, will give you the most direct look into how he blends his Norwegian heritage, his Christian faith, and his unwavering support for Israel into one cohesive—and often controversial—worldview.