Hegseth Told to Come Clean on His Bizarre Tattoos and Conspiracy Theories
Sen. Elizabeth Warren called out Pete Hegseth for his unorthodox tattoos and “conspiracy theories” in a letter to the Department of Defense nominee outlining her concerns about his appointment.
The Massachusetts senator wrote to the Fox News personality in the letter, obtained by the Washington Post, that she was “deeply concerned” about his fitness for the role.
“Your confirmation as Secretary of Defense would be detrimental to our national security and disrespect a diverse array of service members who are willing to sacrifice for our country,” she wrote in the 33-page letter sent Monday.
She cited how in 2021 when Hegseth was a National Guardsman, he was blocked from providing security at President Joe Biden’s inauguration after he was deemed an “insider threat” because of his “Deus Vult” tattoo.
“Deus Vult,” which Hegseth has written on his bicep, means “God Wills It” in Latin. Originally used by Christian crusaders in the Middle Ages, the phrase is now associated with right-wing extremism.
“We cannot have a Defense Secretary whose fellow servicemembers feel concerned enough about to report as a potential insider threat,” Warren wrote.
The National Guard report that excluded Hegseth from Biden’s inauguration also included photos of his Jerusalem cross tattoo, which has a long history in Christianity but has also been co-opted by the far-right.
The incident, which was first reported on in December, caused Hegseth to leave the National Guard. He wrote in his book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, that he felt targeted and rejected by the military.
“The feeling was mutual - I didn’t want this Army anymore either,” he wrote.
The letter also calls out Hegseth’s conspiracy theories surrounding Jan. 6, including that the attack was actually carried out by leftists pretending to be Trump supporters. Warren noted how Hegseth refused to concede that Trump lost the 2020 election.
“We cannot have a Secretary of Defense who is peddling conspiracy theories and making claims that are devoid of reality,” she wrote.
The letter also details reports of Hegseth’s alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct and opposition to diversity in the military.
He has denied allegations of sexual assault against him and said that he does not have a drinking problem.
Hegseth will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee for his confirmation hearing on Jan. 14.
In her letter, Warren warned Hegseth that he should be ready to respond to questions about her concerns and asked that he first reply in writing by Friday.
