Additional Coverage:
- Pete Hegseth’s weird tattoos as he bans ‘superficial individual expression’ from the military (irishstar.com)
Secretary Hegseth’s New Military Grooming Rules Spark Debate, Public Points to Personal Ink
In a move that’s certainly got people talking, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a sweeping new order for military personnel, outlining strict grooming requirements. The directive, which some are already calling a touch hypocritical, aims to restore what Hegseth termed “the highest male standard” for combat positions.
During a gathering of hundreds of generals and admirals, the Secretary—dubbed ‘Secretary of War’ by President Trump—reportedly pulled no punches. He lambasted “fat troops” and declared “fat generals and admirals… completely unacceptable.”
Hegseth continued, “No more beards, long hair, superficial individual expression. We don’t have a military full of Nordic pagans.”
However, it didn’t take long for the public to notice a potential irony in the Secretary’s stern new guidelines, particularly his remarks on “superficial individual expression.” The 45-year-old former Fox and Friends host, who served tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, is himself notably and extensively tattooed, boasting more than a dozen pieces across his arms and chest.
Hegseth’s body art isn’t new to controversy. Among his most prominent tattoos is a large Jerusalem Cross on his chest, a symbol that has drawn links to Christian nationalist movements. This particular tattoo became a significant talking point in 2021 when Hegseth’s orders to guard Joe Biden’s inauguration were revoked.
During a podcast interview, Hegseth recounted the incident, stating, “I was deemed an extremist because of a tattoo by my National Guard unit in Washington D.C. and my orders were revoked to guard the Biden inauguration.” He described a call from his commander the day before, who “tepidly” told him, “Major you can just stand down. We don’t need you, we’re good,” without offering a clear explanation.
The Jerusalem Cross isn’t the only piece of ink with a story. Hegseth also sports a tattoo of a sword, accompanied by a bible verse that reads, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.”
Beyond the religious symbolism, many of Hegseth’s tattoos carry deep US and military patriotic themes. His forearm bears “We the people,” the opening line of the US Constitution.
On his upper arm, an American flag design incorporates an AR-15 rifle as part of its lower stripes, which Hegseth confirmed in an interview was the AR-15 he carried during his Iraq deployment. Additionally, he proudly displays the patch of his army regiment, the 187th Infantry, on his shoulder.