Pete Hegseth Faces False White Supremacy Allegations Over Tattoos

Two far-left veterans with strong ties to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are behind resurfaced allegations that Pete Hegseth’s tattoos are linked to white supremacy. These claims, initially made in 2021, have reemerged as Hegseth prepares for confirmation as defense secretary in a potential second Trump administration. The accusations, which Hegseth has vehemently denied, have been widely criticized as baseless and politically motivated.

The controversy dates back to January 2021, when Hegseth, a member of the D.C. National Guard, was tasked with supporting President Joe Biden’s inauguration. Despite being prepared to fulfill his duties, his orders were suddenly revoked. According to Hegseth’s account in his book The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, a senior officer informed him that his tattoos had been flagged as extremist symbols by two soldiers monitoring his social media.

The tattoo in question? A Jerusalem Cross, a religious symbol representing Christ’s sacrifice and the mission to spread Christianity. The design features one large cross in the center, surrounded by four smaller crosses. It has historical roots in the Crusades and is prominently associated with Christianity—not white nationalism.

“It’s a religious symbol, not a white nationalist symbol,” Hegseth wrote, expressing disbelief that his faith-based tattoo could be misconstrued.

Retired Master Sergeant DeRicko Gaither, one of the soldiers who flagged Hegseth’s tattoos, emailed his concerns to then-D.C. National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. William Walker. Gaither’s email, which Reuters published, labeled the tattoo and the phrase “Deus Vult” (Latin for “God wills it”) as symbols co-opted by extremist groups.

Gaither’s claims, however, were based on dubious sources. Portions of his email appeared to be plagiarized from a 2018 article by an extreme-left professor who associates religious and medieval imagery with white supremacy. Despite the lack of direct evidence, the allegations led to Hegseth being excluded from the inauguration.

Gaither, who identifies as a DEI advocate, has faced criticism for his own selective promotion of racial and gender diversity. His podcast exclusively features Black guests, and he has publicly celebrated all-Black achievements in professional settings. Critics argue this undermines his credibility in labeling others as extremists.

The second accuser, Navy veteran Travis Akers, initially tweeted the photo of Hegseth’s tattoos that was later forwarded to Gaither. Akers, a vocal Democrat activist and co-founder of the pro-gun reform group Left of Bang, has a history of launching personal attacks on social media. Although Akers deleted his tweet, its implications lingered, contributing to the smear campaign against Hegseth.

Supporters of Hegseth have rallied to his defense, including former Trump administration official and fellow D.C. National Guard member Earl Matthews. Matthews, who is Black, dismissed the accusations as “patently absurd,” highlighting Hegseth’s exemplary service in a unit that was predominantly Black and commanded by Black officers.

In a recent statement on X (formerly Twitter), Matthews wrote:

“The notion that Hegseth might have been a white supremacist or extremist was patently absurd on its face. He served honorably in Lafayette Square during the BLM riots, just as he did in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Even figures outside of Trump’s orbit have called the allegations baseless. Michael LaRosa, former press secretary for First Lady Jill Biden, criticized those pushing the narrative, warning that such accusations are damaging the Democratic Party’s credibility.

“This stuff has to stop,” LaRosa posted on X. “Opposing DEI initiatives does not make you a white supremacist. Voices like this on the left are turning the Democratic Party into a joke.”

Hegseth has remained defiant in the face of these accusations. He revealed that the ordeal ultimately led to his departure from the Army, writing in his book:

“I didn’t want this Army anymore either.”

The current resurgence of these allegations appears to be an attempt to derail his confirmation as defense secretary. Critics at the Pentagon fear that Hegseth will remove senior military leaders who prioritized DEI initiatives over operational readiness.

The Pentagon is reportedly “scrambling” to distance itself from DEI initiatives, which have faced backlash from conservatives. Trump’s transition team has already begun compiling a list of military leaders who supported such programs for potential removal. Hegseth himself has called for the ouster of figures like Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Charles “CQ” Brown, accusing them of pushing “woke” policies at the expense of military effectiveness.

In an interview on The Shawn Ryan Show, Hegseth stated:

“First of all, you’ve got to fire the chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Any general that was involved in any of the DEI/woke stuff has got to go.”

Despite the controversy, Hegseth’s nomination appears to be on solid ground. Trump spokesperson Steven Cheung dismissed the allegations, calling them “left-wing media concocted falsehoods” designed to derail a qualified candidate.

“Mr. Hegseth has the necessary experience and qualifications to implement President Trump’s pro-America policies,” Cheung told Breitbart News. “None of these falsehoods will work to stop that mission.”

As Hegseth prepares for Senate confirmation, his supporters argue that the focus should remain on his qualifications and vision for the Department of Defense, rather than politically motivated smears. The resurfacing of these allegations serves as a stark reminder of the polarized environment surrounding key appointments in Washington.

With both sides deeply entrenched, the road to Hegseth’s confirmation is likely to be fraught with partisan clashes. However, his defenders remain confident that truth and merit will ultimately prevail.