Does Pete Hegseth have swastika tattoo on his chest? Fact check

Former FOX personality Pete Hegseth, recently nominated by Donald Trump for Secretary of Defense, became the subject of controversy when a viral image of his chest tattoo was misidentified as a swastika. In reality, the tattoo is a Jerusalem Cross, a Christian symbol dating back to the 13th century, as clarified by multiple sources.

The viral claim gained traction online, with one user tweeting, “Are we supposed to pretend that isn’t a SWASTIKA?” The misconception was debunked as observers noted that the symbol is associated with Christianity, not Nazism. Hegseth also sports several other tattoos, including the phrase Deus Vult (Latin for "God wills it"), a cross with a sword referencing Matthew 10:34, and patriotic designs like 'We the People,' '1775' in Roman numerals, and the 'Join or Die' snake.

Trump defended his nominee’s credentials, saying, “Pete has spent his entire life as a Warrior for the Troops and for the Country. Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in America First.” He added, “Nobody fights harder for the Troops, and Pete will be a courageous and patriotic champion of our ‘Peace through Strength’ policy.”

Hegseth’s nomination has sparked debate about his qualifications. Lincoln Bloomfield, a Pentagon veteran, acknowledged his combat experience but raised concerns about his limited policy background, stating, “The question is how much does experience help lead to finding solutions?”

Representative Adam Smith, a Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, expressed skepticism, commenting, “I didn’t know who he was until 20 minutes ago. And he certainly doesn’t seem to have any background whatsoever in (Department of Defense) policy.”