27-03-2025
'Kafer' tattoo on US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sparks outrage
ALBAWABA - US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth recently sparked debate on social media after several users noticed the word "kafer" (non-believer in Arabic) tattooed on his arm, despite having a Crusader cross tattoo right next to it.
The picture was part of a post shared on Musk's X (formerly known as Twitter) by Hegseth's official account, where he "kicked off the day with the warriors of SDVT-1," following photos of the interaction.
He wrote, "Kicked off the day alongside the warriors of SDVT-1 at @JointBasePHH. These SEALs are the tip of the spear, masters of stealth, endurance, and lethality. America's enemies fear them—our allies trust them. Proud to spend time with America's best."
Several X users noticed the tattoo and took to the comment section to express their opinions on the matter in question.
An X user wrote, "Do you even know what that tattoo means?" While another added, "Why do you arm the people who call you "Kaffir"?"
This is not the first time Pete Hegseth sparked debate on social media for his tattoos. During an interview with Fox News, the US Secretary of Defense had to explain why he had a Crusader cross tattooed on him, which caused widespread controversy since it's allegedly linked to white nationalist extremists.
Hegseth responded and said, "Ultimately, I was considered an extremist or a white nationalist because of the tattoos I had by leaders in my unit," solidifying that it's a "Jerusalem Cross," which is also known as a Crusader cross.
