Does Pete Hegseth Have A Swastika Tattoo On His Chest? Fact-Checking Viral Claim

President-elect Donald Trump selected former FOX personality Pete Hegseth as his nominee for Secretary of Defense. Following the announcement, a photo of Hegseth, showcasing a tattoo on his chest, went viral, with some mistakenly identifying it as a swastika. In reality, the tattoo is a Jerusalem Cross, a Christian symbol dating back to the 13th century.

Trumps secretary of defense.... are we supposed to pretend that isn't a SWASTIKA ???? pic.twitter.com/6hPugvNCtr

— Claire (@ClaireFosterPHD) November 14, 2024

Hegseth has several other tattoos, including the phrase 'Deus Vult' on his bicep, which means "God wills it," as well as a cross with a sword, referencing Matthew 10:34. His other tattoos reflect his patriotism, such as 'We the People,' '1775' in Roman numerals, and the iconic 'Join or Die' snake. One of his largest tattoos honors the 187th Infantry Regiment, which he served in. In his announcement, Trump praised Hegseth's dedication, saying, "Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops, and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart and a true believer in America First.""With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice - Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down. Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy," he added. Hegseth's nomination surprised many, sparking questions about his qualifications for the pivotal role. Lincoln Bloomfield, who served in the Pentagon under Presidents George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan, acknowledged Hegseth's combat experience, but raised concerns about whether his limited experience could address the complex challenges of the position."Hegseth's not an old guy. He's in his prime, so he has all the energy he needs," he told BBC. "But the question is how much does experience help lead to finding solutions? This is a job where every morning there are at least a dozen kinds of fires burning."Representative Adam Smith, the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, also expressed skepticism, saying, "I confess I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago. And he certainly doesn’t seem to have any background whatsoever in (Department of Defence) policy."