Attentive observers noticed a new tattoo on the body of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a visit to US troops at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The tattoo contains the Arabic word "kafir" (كافر), which in the Quran means "denier" or "unbeliever."
The revelation comes at a tense time for Hegseth, who has faced calls to resign after reports that he shared plans for attacks in Yemen with Trump administration officials in a Signal group. Hegseth has denied any classified information was involved in the conversation and is currently on a tour of Guam and Hawaii to visit US troops.
The "kafir" tattoo is placed below another tattoo of his that contains the phrase "Deus Vult," a slogan of the medieval Crusades. Activists have condemned this as another display of Islamophobia by a senior Pentagon official.
"This is not just a personal choice, but a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man who oversees American wars," pro-Palestinian activist Nerdeen Kiswani wrote on social media.
Journalist Tam Hussein said that this tattoo will be interpreted in the Muslim world as a statement of hostility towards them.
However, some defended the tattoo, considering it a symbol widely used by veterans who served in the Middle East. "This word is known among soldiers and symbolizes the challenge against Islamic terrorists," wrote one user on the social network 'X'.
It is not clear whether this tattoo is new, or simply had not been noticed before due to its position on Hegseth's body. The Department of Defense has not commented on the matter.
This is not the first time Hegseth's tattoos have sparked controversy. Previously, a Jerusalem cross on his chest sparked controversy after Hegseth was nominated for Secretary of Defense, with Democrats labeling it an extremist symbol of the Christian right. He has claimed that the tattoo was the reason he was barred from participating in the security mission for President Joe Biden's inauguration.
With more than a dozen tattoos on his right arm and chest, Hegseth continues to be a controversial figure in American politics. (A2 Televizion)
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