{"id":2369635,"date":"2024-11-15T21:43:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-16T02:43:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-defends-himself-from-white-supremacist-accusations-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-11-15T21:44:06","modified_gmt":"2024-11-16T02:44:06","slug":"trumps-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-defends-himself-from-white-supremacist-accusations-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trumps-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-defends-himself-from-white-supremacist-accusations-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump\u2019s defense pick Pete Hegseth defends himself from white supremacist accusations &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrumps-defense-pick-pete-hegseth-defends-himself-from-white-supremacist-accusations-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2369635&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pete Hegseth,\u2062 nominated by President-elect Donald Trump\u200b for \u200bSecretary of Defense, \u2064has\u200b found himself defending against accusations of associating his tattoos with white \u2063nationalism. His nomination has drawn attention, particularly because of \u200ba tattoo that reads &#8220;Deus Vult&#8221; \u2064(Latin for &#8220;God Wills It&#8221;),\u2064 linked \u2062historically to the Crusades but also previously \u200cassociated with white nationalists. An Associated Press article revealed that Hegseth\u200c was removed from National Guard duty \u2062during President\u200d Joe Biden&#8217;s inauguration in \u20632021 over concerns about this tattoo.<\/p>\n<p>In response\u200b to the backlash, Yale University\u200c student and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-republicans-meet-at-state-capitol-in-wisconsin-vote-for-gop-slate-of-electors\/\" title=\"BREAKING: Republicans Meet at State Capitol in Wisconsin \u2013 Vote for GOP Slate of Electors\">vice president-elect<\/a>\u200b J.D. Vance expressed \u200bhis discontent on social \u200bmedia, labeling the\u2064 criticisms as anti-Christian\u200d bigotry. \u2063Hegseth echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that\u2063 he would protect\u200d Christians, conservatives, and patriots,\u200d stating that media targeting \u2063would cease under his leadership at the Department\u200b of \u2063Defense.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth, a National Guard veteran and Fox News \u2062personality, has <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">multiple religious-themed \u2062tattoos<\/a>, including a Jerusalem\u200c cross, which he notes was \u200da point of \u2064contention during his prior National Guard\u200c service. Amidst the debates,\u2063 former\u2062 spokesperson Michael LaRosa has urged Democrats to refrain from \u200dlabeling opponents as white supremacists\u2064 excessively. The discussion around Hegseth illustrates broader issues regarding\u200d religious expression, media criticism, and political identity in contemporary America.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump&rsquo;s defense pick Pete Hegseth defends himself from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/gov-whitmer-media-caught-in-another-lie-anarchist-arrested-for-plot-to-kidnap-and-kill-whitmer-hates-president-trump-trump-is-a-tyrant-video\/\" title=\"Gov. Whitmer, Media Caught in Another Lie - Anarchist Arrested For Plot to Kidnap and Kill Whitmer Hates President Trump, &#039;Trump is a Tyrant&#039; (VIDEO)\">white supremacist<\/a> accusations<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1883073\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>President-elect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Donald Trump<\/a>&rsquo;s nomination for Secretary of Defense <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Pete Hegseth<\/a> has defended himself after facing repeated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/pete-hegseth-defense-secretary-white-supremacist-trump-1986435\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">accusations<\/a> that his tattoos were associated with white nationalism.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Hegseth, whose nomination by Trump has been one of the more surprising in the past week, has been the subject of multiple articles focusing on his tattoos, An <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/trump-defense-department-pentagon-hegseth-fox-news-8cd9f065e54a7cbbaceeec8bae9261a6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"Associated Press article\"><em>Associated Press<\/em> article<\/a> revealed that Hegseth had been removed from National Guard duty during President Joe Biden&rsquo;s inauguration in 2021 because a tattoo on his bicep, reading &ldquo;Deus Vult&rdquo;, was deemed enough to consider him a possible &ldquo;insider threat.&rdquo; The Latin phrase, which means &ldquo;God Wills It&rdquo; has been associated with the Crusades since the 1100s, but has been associated with white nationalists at times.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Associated Press<\/em> article was highlighted by vice president-elect J.D. Vance, who posted on X: &ldquo;They&rsquo;re attacking Pete Hegseth for having a Christian motto tattooed on his arm. This is disgusting anti-Christian bigotry from the AP, and the entire organization should be ashamed of itself.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Vance&rsquo;s post was enough for Hegseth to speak for the first time since news broke that he would be in charge of the Pentagon.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Amen JD Vance. Anti-Christian bigotry in the media on full display,&rdquo; <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/PeteHegseth\/status\/1857567798974681562\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"he wrote on X\">he wrote on X<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE at DJT&rsquo;s DoD.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Amen <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/JDVance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@JDVance<\/a>. Anti-Christian bigotry in the media on full display. <\/p>\n<p>They can target me &mdash; I don&rsquo;t give a damn &mdash; but this type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE at DJT&rsquo;s DoD. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TCZVWsxEAS\">https:\/\/t.co\/TCZVWsxEAS<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PeteHegseth\/status\/1857567798974681562?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 15, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>The National Guard veteran, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/3228614\/pete-hegseth-pentagon-controversial-resume-fox-news-host\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Fox News personality<\/a>, and now nominee for Trump&rsquo;s secretary of defense has a number of religiously inspired tattoos, which have been the source of multiple articles in the past weeks.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The most prominent tattoo in question is a depiction of a large Jerusalem cross on his chest. Hegseth previously <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JimLaPorta\/status\/1854612767644566005\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">said<\/a> the Jerusalem Cross tattoo was the one that kept him away from President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/joe-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Joe Biden<\/a>&rsquo;s inauguration in 2021.<\/p>\n<p>The discourse surrounding Hegseth&rsquo;s tattoos comes as former spokesman to First Lady <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jill-biden\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Jill Biden<\/a> Michael LaRosa implored Democrats to stop demonizing their opponents as white supremacists.<\/p>\n<p>He was responding to an MSNBC guest who called Hegseth a white supremacist for opposing DEI in the military.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This s*** has to stop,&rdquo; LaRosa wrote. &ldquo;Opposing DEI initiatives does not make you a white supremacist. Conversations and demonization like this are a big part of the reason we got our asses kicked.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>He added: &ldquo;The answer to extremism is not more extremism. Voices like this on the left are turning the Democratic Party into a joke. We&rsquo;ve got to knock it off and get serious guests who are going to diagnose politics, not make it worse. Name-calling, vilifying, and defaming nominees you oppose, even if there is very good reason to oppose them, represents everything the Democratic Party should be RUNNING away from.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth has been nominated as secretary of defense because he is widely expected to root out DEI in the military.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Speaking on the same podcast where he discussed his tattoos, Hegseth was asked how he would fix the  military. His comments came before he was nominated.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Well first of all you&rsquo;ve got to fire the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and you&rsquo;ve got to fire &mdash;&#8239;I mean obviously you&rsquo;ve got to bring in a new Secretary of Defense, but any general that was involved &mdash; general, admiral, whatever &mdash; that was involved in any of the DEI woke s*** has got to go,&rdquo; Hegseth said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1883073\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1883073\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump&#8217;s defense nominee Pete Hegseth responds to white supremacist claims<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2910,"featured_media":2369636,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pete-Hegseth-v11.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3998,44930,3634,32076,33072],"class_list":["post-2369635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-defense","tag-pete-hegseth","tag-trump","tag-washington-examiner","tag-white-supremacists"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/Pete-Hegseth-v11.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2369635","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2910"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2369635"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2369635\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2369639,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2369635\/revisions\/2369639"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2369636"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2369635"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2369635"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2369635"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}