Official announcement from the U.S. Senate or Department of Defense

Defense Secretary Nominee Hegseth Defends Jerusalem Cross Tattoo Amid Biden Inauguration Exclusion

Jan 14, 2025, 05:12 PM

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's nominee for defense secretary, faced scrutiny over his tattoo of the Jerusalem Cross, a historic Christian symbol, during a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing. Hegseth explained that the tattoo was the same as one featured on the front page of the program at former President Jimmy Carter's memorial ceremony at the Washington National Cathedral. Hegseth was barred from serving with his National Guard unit at President Joe Biden's inauguration due to this tattoo, which he claims led to his orders being revoked at the last minute. Hegseth argued that this incident reflects a broader issue of perceived extremism within the military, suggesting that the focus on such matters has politicized the ranks.