The ink on Pete Hegseth’s chest isn't just a tattoo. It’s a political lightning rod. For some, it’s a simple badge of faith, a souvenir from a trip to the Holy Land. For others, it’s a terrifying signal of a coming crusade. When Donald Trump tapped the former Fox News host to lead the Department of War—a title Hegseth himself helped revive from the history books—the world started staring very closely at his skin.
He's got a lot of it. Ink, that is.
The most famous piece is the Jerusalem cross Pete Hegseth wears on his chest. It’s large. It’s bold. And in January 2021, it reportedly got him flagged as an "insider threat" by his own National Guard unit. Imagine that. A decorated Major, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, told he couldn't guard Joe Biden’s inauguration because of a cross.
But is it just a cross?
The Jerusalem Cross Pete Hegseth Wears: Faith or Fanaticism?
The Jerusalem cross isn't some new-age invention. It’s ancient. Technically, it’s a "cross-and-crosslets"—one big central cross with four smaller ones tucked into the corners. It’s been around since at least the 11th century. Most historians point to Godfrey of Bouillon, the first ruler of the Kingdom of Jerusalem after the First Crusade, as the guy who made it famous.
For centuries, it meant one thing: pilgrimage.
If you went to Jerusalem, you got the cross. Even today, the Razzouk family in the Old City of Jerusalem has been tattooing this exact design on pilgrims for over 700 years. Hegseth got his while reporting from the region. To him, it’s a symbol of the five wounds of Christ. Or maybe the four corners of the world being reached by the Gospel.
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Standard Sunday school stuff, right?
Well, it gets complicated. Symbols don't live in a vacuum. They get hijacked. In the last decade, far-right groups and "TradCath" (traditionalist Catholic) circles have started using Crusader imagery as a shorthand for a "clash of civilizations." They see the Middle Ages not as a dark time, but as a golden era of Christian strength.
Why the National Guard Flagged the Tattoo
Let’s talk about DeRicko Gaither. He was the security manager for Hegseth’s unit in the D.C. National Guard. In the tense days after the January 6th Capitol riot, everyone was on edge. Gaither saw a photo of Hegseth’s tattoos and sent an email up the chain.
He didn't just point at the Jerusalem cross. He pointed at the words "Deus Vult" on Hegseth’s arm.
Deus Vult is Latin for "God wills it." It was the battle cry of the First Crusade. While Hegseth argues it’s just a Christian motto, the Associated Press and other outlets noted that the phrase has been co-opted by white supremacist groups. It’s appeared on flags at alt-right rallies in Charlottesville and on the gear of people who stormed the Capitol.
When you combine a Crusader cross on the chest with a Crusader battle cry on the arm, the "insider threat" alarm bells start ringing for military security officers. They have a job to do. That job involves spotting "extremist" symbols.
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Hegseth’s response? He was livid. He called it "anti-Christian bigotry." He eventually left the Guard, citing this incident as the moment he realized the military had gone "woke."
The "Kafir" Controversy and the Department of War
Fast forward to 2025. Hegseth is no longer just a guy on a TV screen; he’s the Secretary of War. And the scrutiny hasn't stopped.
Newer photos surfaced showing a tattoo on his arm that says "Kafir" in Arabic script. For those who don't speak the language, it means "infidel" or "unbeliever." In certain military circles, especially those who served in the Middle East during the Global War on Terror, "Kafir" was worn like a badge of defiance against radical Islamists.
But to the 6,000+ Muslims serving in the U.S. military today? It’s often seen as a slur.
Nihad Awad, the director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), didn't mince words. He called the tattoo a display of "anti-Muslim hostility." This creates a bizarre dynamic: the man leading the world's most powerful military has "Infidel" written on his arm while managing alliances with Muslim-majority nations like Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Understanding the "American Crusade"
To really get what’s going on with the Jerusalem cross Pete Hegseth sports, you have to read his book, American Crusade. He doesn't hide his worldview. He thinks the West is in an existential fight. He believes the "ruling class" is trying to destroy American values.
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In his mind, he’s a modern-day knight.
He wrote that he wants to "take the fight" to the "cultural Marxists" and "globalists." This isn't just locker room talk; it’s the philosophy he brought to the Pentagon. Since taking office in early 2025, he’s worked to purge "woke" programs, targeting DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives and rethinking how the military handles everything from recruitment to combat readiness.
Critics say he's turning the military into a partisan weapon. Supporters say he's finally putting "warriors" back in charge.
The Layers of Meaning
Let’s look at the symbols Hegseth has collected:
- Jerusalem Cross: Ancient faith or Crusader militancy?
- Deus Vult: A prayer of submission to God or a call to holy war?
- Kafir: A veteran’s defiance or a sign of Islamophobia?
- We the People: A tribute to the Constitution or a nod to militia culture?
- Yeshua (Jesus in Hebrew): Personal devotion or "Christian Nationalism"?
The truth is probably somewhere in the messy middle. Symbols are "polysemic"—they mean different things to different people at the same time. To a medieval historian, the Jerusalem cross is a fascinating relic of the 12th century. To a Fox News viewer, it’s a symbol of standing up for your faith. To a security analyst, it’s a red flag for radicalization.
Actionable Insights: Navigating the Controversy
If you're trying to make sense of the Hegseth era at the Department of War, you need to look past the headlines. It's easy to get lost in the "is he or isn't he" debate regarding extremism.
- Context is King: A tattoo of a cross in a church is different than a tattoo of a cross next to a "Join or Die" snake on a guy overseeing 1.3 million active-duty troops.
- Watch the Policy, Not Just the Ink: While the media focuses on the tattoos, the real story is the Executive Order Trump signed in late 2025, which officially allowed the use of "Secretary of War." This shift in language signals a move toward a more aggressive, less "bureaucratic" military stance.
- The Vetting Process has Changed: The fact that Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate in a 51-50 vote (with J.D. Vance breaking the tie) shows that what the military once called "insider threats" are now viewed by half of the government as "patriotic expressions."
The Jerusalem cross Pete Hegseth wears isn't going anywhere. It’s literally under his skin. As the 29th Secretary of Defense (and the first "Secretary of War" in decades), his body art has become a roadmap for the Trump 2.0 administration’s approach to the military: unapologetic, religiously charged, and deeply provocative.
To stay informed, track the actual legislative changes coming out of the Pentagon rather than just the social media firestorms. The rebranding of the Department is a clear signal that the "crusade" Hegseth wrote about is no longer a metaphor—it’s a management style. Check official government portals like war.gov for updates on how these symbolic shifts are being translated into actual military doctrine and personnel changes.