Pete Hegseth, a prominent figure in conservative media and a Fox News anchor, has garnered significant attention not only for his political commentary but also for his extensive and overtly symbolic tattoos. These aren’t subtle, hidden pieces of body art; instead, Hegseth’s tattoos are a bold display of interconnected symbols that have ignited debate and scrutiny, particularly regarding their alignment with Christian nationalism and far-right ideologies. To understand the controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth Tattoos, it’s crucial to delve into the historical context of religious tattooing and the specific meanings embedded within his chosen iconography.
The practice of tattooing religious pilgrims in the Holy Land dates back centuries, with Jerusalem becoming a notable center for this tradition. In 1862, Prince Albert, later King Edward VII, received a Jerusalem cross tattoo during his visit to the city, a tradition echoed by his son, George V. The Jerusalem cross, also known as the Crusader’s cross, features a large central cross surrounded by four smaller crosses, and it’s this very symbol, massively scaled, that takes center stage on Pete Hegseth’s chest. However, Hegseth’s ink goes far beyond a simple pilgrim souvenir. His body tells a complex, layered story through a collection of Christian, historical, and nationalistic symbols, prompting both fervent support and sharp criticism. This article will unpack the meanings behind Pete Hegseth tattoos, exploring their historical roots, contemporary interpretations, and the swirling controversy they have ignited.
Pete Hegseth tattoos, including the Crusader cross and "Deus Vult" on his bicep, as seen in photos from his Instagram.
The Jerusalem Cross: Pilgrimage and Prominence
The Jerusalem cross, boldly displayed on Hegseth’s chest, immediately evokes the long history of Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land. For centuries, pilgrims have sought out tattoo artists in Jerusalem to indelibly mark their spiritual journey. While the Jerusalem cross can symbolize various aspects of Christian faith – some interpretations link the four smaller crosses to the four Gospels or the four corners of the world to which Christianity should spread, while others connect the five crosses to the five wounds of Christ – its most undeniable historical association is with the Crusades.
Matt Lodder, an expert in art history and tattoo history, notes the striking difference in scale between traditional Jerusalem pilgrim tattoos and Hegseth’s chest piece. “In Jerusalem, you’re looking at a 20-minute job. His is hours and hours and hours of tattooing,” Lodder observes. This significant enlargement is a statement in itself. While a smaller Jerusalem cross might be interpreted as a personal memento of faith, its prominent size on Hegseth’s chest amplifies its visibility and invites a broader interpretation, particularly in the context of his other tattoos. The sheer scale moves it beyond a subtle expression of personal faith into a declarative symbol intended for public consumption.
Chi-Rho: Constantine’s Banner and Christian Militancy
Adjacent to the Jerusalem cross on Hegseth’s body is the Chi-Rho symbol, one of the earliest Christograms, formed by superimposing the first two letters (XP) of the Greek word for Christ. For many Christians, the Chi-Rho is an uncontroversial symbol of Christ, similar to the Alpha and Omega, representing Christ as the beginning and the end. However, the Chi-Rho also carries a potent historical association with Christian militancy, specifically through its connection to the Roman Emperor Constantine.
According to historical accounts, Constantine had a vision of the Chi-Rho before the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE, and was told to use it as a symbol to ensure victory. Constantine ordered his soldiers to display the Chi-Rho on their shields, and his subsequent victory led to the legalization of Christianity within the Roman Empire and its eventual establishment as the official religion. Historian Mike Horswell points out that for those attuned to these historical associations, the Chi-Rho can evoke “a clear story being built of Christian militancy through history.”
While Hegseth may not explicitly reference Constantine’s military campaigns, the inclusion of the Chi-Rho alongside other overtly militant symbols contributes to a cumulative message. Thomas Lecaque, a historian specializing in apocalyptic religion and political violence, suggests the Chi-Rho could be circulating as a far-right meme, leveraging its historical link to Christian conquest, regardless of individual awareness of Constantine’s history. The power of the Chi-Rho in Hegseth’s tattoo collection lies in its dual meaning: it can be seen as a benign Christian symbol or a potent emblem of historical Christian militancy, offering “plausible deniability” while signaling to those who recognize its deeper connotations.
“Deus Vult”: The Crusader Battle Cry, Unambiguously Militant
Perhaps the most contentious and least ambiguous of Pete Hegseth’s Christian tattoos is “Deus Vult” emblazoned on his bicep. Latin for “God Wills It,” Deus Vult is historically linked to the Crusades, believed to be a rallying cry of Crusader knights. While the precise origins of the phrase are debated by medieval historians, its association with the Crusades, particularly as a call to arms in the name of God, is undeniable in popular understanding.
Unlike the Jerusalem cross or the Chi-Rho, “Deus Vult” lacks a widely accepted secondary, non-militant interpretation. As historian Charlotte Gauthier explains, the close association of “Deus Vult” with the Crusades is largely a 19th-century construct, part of a broader Victorian-era reinterpretation of the Middle Ages that romanticized and militarized the Crusades. This romanticized view, however historically inaccurate, is potent in contemporary culture, particularly within far-right circles.
Medieval historian Eleanor Janega and historian Thomas Lecaque both unequivocally assert the militant meaning of “Deus Vult.” Lecaque states, “There is no version of Deus Vult that means anything other than Crusader fanboy.” Janega concurs, characterizing it as “a call to religious violence, expressly linked to a pretty horrific episode in history.” The placement of “Deus Vult” prominently on Hegseth’s bicep, a traditional location for displays of strength and allegiance, further reinforces its assertive and militant connotation, leaving little room for alternative interpretations.
Sword and Cross: Rejecting Peace in Favor of Conflict
Adding another layer of militant Christian symbolism, Hegseth sports a tattoo of a sword piercing a cross. This imagery directly references a verse from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 10:34): “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” This verse, often interpreted metaphorically in mainstream Christianity, is taken literally and weaponized within certain Christian nationalist and far-right contexts to justify conflict and violence in the name of faith.
The choice of this particular verse, as opposed to the numerous peace-oriented passages in the New Testament, speaks volumes. As Janega quips, “It’s not Jesus with the loaves and the fishes, is it?” Horswell adds, “He hasn’t chosen ‘blessed are the peacemakers.’” The sword and cross tattoo, combined with the “Deus Vult” and other symbols, paints a consistent picture of a Christianity that emphasizes conflict, confrontation, and a rejection of peace in the face of perceived enemies.
“Yeshua” and American Nationalist Ink: Weaving Together Faith and Nation
Across Hegseth’s elbow is tattooed “Yeshua,” the Hebrew name for Jesus. While seemingly a straightforward expression of Christian faith, its placement within the broader context of his tattoos, particularly alongside overtly American nationalist symbols, further illuminates his ideological framework. Hegseth’s collection extends beyond Christian symbols to include potent emblems of American identity and history: the opening phrase of the U.S. Constitution, “We the People”; the year “1775” in Roman numerals, marking the start of the American Revolutionary War; the “Join, or Die” snake from the American Revolution; an American flag intertwined with an AR-15 rifle; crossed muskets; a circle of stars; and his 187th Infantry Regiment patch.
This fusion of Christian and American nationalist iconography is central to understanding the message conveyed by Pete Hegseth tattoos. His tattoos don’t simply express personal faith; they articulate a specific brand of Christian nationalism that intertwines religious belief with a militant, historically revisionist, and often exclusionary vision of American identity.
Expert Perspectives and the Far-Right Echo Chamber
Experts who have studied far-right movements and symbolism consistently point to the concerning nature of Hegseth’s tattoo collection. Ben Elley, a researcher on far-right online radicalization, emphasizes that even if individual tattoos could be seen as innocent Christian symbols, “that collection of symbols all together, it builds to a picture that’s very common in far-right communities.”
The historical narrative woven through Hegseth’s tattoos draws heavily on a romanticized and often inaccurate portrayal of the Crusades and early Christian history, a narrative that resonates deeply within far-right circles. Andrew Elliott, author of “Medievalism, Politics and Mass Media,” highlights the “longing for an invented past” and a “sense of belonging to an in-group” that such symbolism provides. This invented past often serves to legitimize contemporary ideologies and actions, providing a historical veneer for present-day agendas.
The use of Crusader imagery and “Deus Vult” has become increasingly prevalent within far-right movements globally, seen at events like the Charlottesville rally, in the manifestos of far-right terrorists like Anders Breivik, and among insurrectionists at the U.S. Capitol on January 6th. Gauthier notes the widespread adoption of these symbols, stating, “It’s everywhere… it would be quicker to say where this isn’t used, frankly.” Elliott confirms the rarity of “Deus Vult” outside of far-right culture, except in video games, which may be a source of its modern popularization within these communities.
A Modern Phenomenon: Weaponized Christian Tattoo Culture
Experts agree that the specific combination of Crusader imagery and tattoos as a form of weaponized Christian expression is a relatively recent phenomenon, emerging prominently in the last decade. Lodder observes, “Literally I’ve been seeing it only in the past decade, this more weaponized Christian tattooing culture.” Lecaque dates its mainstream emergence to “the [2015] Trump campaign onward,” while Gauthier links its rise to the economic anxieties following the 2008 financial crisis and the 2015 migrant crisis in Europe, suggesting xenophobia as a driving factor.
The timing of Hegseth’s tattoos, largely acquired during and after the Trump administration, is significant. Lecaque emphasizes that it’s “a very deliberate package of tattoos put together during the Trump administration. It was not a long process, it’s a very small amount of time.” This recent and deliberate acquisition underscores the intentionality behind Hegseth’s body art as a carefully constructed message.
Hegseth’s “American Crusade” and Plausible Deniability
Pete Hegseth’s own words in his book “American Crusade” further solidify the interpretation of his tattoos as expressions of Christian nationalist ideology. In the book, he explicitly calls for an “American crusade,” drawing parallels to the 11th-century Crusades and advocating for a militant stance against perceived enemies, both domestic and international.
Despite this clear articulation of his ideology in print, Hegseth has denied accusations of far-right or Christian nationalist sympathies, dismissing criticism as “anti-Christian bigotry.” Elley explains this tactic as a form of “plausible deniability” common within far-right circles, allowing them to signal to their supporters while deflecting broader criticism by claiming misinterpretation or persecution.
Conclusion: Unambiguous Signals and Real-World Implications
Pete Hegseth tattoos are not merely random acts of self-expression; they are a carefully curated collection of symbols that communicate a clear and consistent message of militant Christian nationalism. While some individual tattoos might be open to multiple interpretations in isolation, their combination on Hegseth’s body, particularly the prominent display of “Deus Vult” and the sword and cross, leaves little room for ambiguity.
Experts in medieval history, religious symbolism, and far-right movements express serious concern about the implications of such overt displays of militant Christian nationalism, particularly from individuals in positions of power and influence. As Janega concludes, “For a medieval historian, they’re really obvious red flags.” Lodder echoes this sentiment, finding it “both absurd and terrifying” that someone with such “prominent and worrying tattoos” could hold significant political influence.
The message conveyed by Pete Hegseth tattoos is undeniably one of conflict, confrontation, and a religiously inflected nationalism that echoes historical crusades and contemporary far-right ideologies. These are not subtle hints but bold pronouncements etched onto his skin, signaling a worldview that warrants serious attention and concern, especially given his platform and influence.
