Oh man. The headlines! The quotes!

[pat_k]

Last edited Tue Sep 30, 2025, 02:56 PM - Edit history (3)

Hegseth Uses Extraordinary Meeting to Fat-Shame Generals (Mother Jones)

Hegseth "ordered" a return to the "highest male standard"

(Gee, I know they don't count many women among the generals and admirals in the military, but I think they comprise almost 10%. Does he really think there are none?!)

”It’s completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals”

“I don’t want my son serving alongside troops who are out of shape or in combat units with females who can’t meet the same combat arms physical standards as men,”

(Is he unilaterally discharging all the women!?? That would be 15 or 20% of all those serving!)

“We are overhauling an inspector general process that has been weaponized, putting complainers and poor performers in the driver’s seat,” he said. “We are doing the same with the equal opportunity policies. No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints.”

(WTF?? Just like that? Unilaterally? In violation of law?)

Mother Jones concludes with:

Together, the dualing speeches appeared to confirm suspicions leading up to Tuesday’s meeting that the country’s top military commanders were being forced from their posts around the world in order to attend what essentially boiled down to a MAGA pep rally—absent the cheering crowds.

Hegseth rails against 'woke,' lays out standards in speech to top generals, admirals
The president echoed Hegseth's sentiments in a long-winded speech. (ABC)

"no more division, distraction or gender delusions"

"No more beardos," he said. "The era of unacceptable appearance is over."

He said he is also "overhauling" the DOD's Inspector General's Office that is investigating him for creating a culture of "walking on eggshells" that he said "has been weaponized, putting complainers, ideologues and poor performers in the driver's seat."

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rails against 'fat generals' and calls for physical fitness standards (NBC)

'If I Don't Like Somebody, I'll Fire Them': Trump Warns Military Officials Before Quantico Visit (India's Times Now World)

I can't take any more.

On Edit 11:50 PST:
In addition to declaring his intent to violate the IG Act of 1978 and other statutes that protect individuals who wish to report waste, fraud, and abuse without revealing their identity, they declared their intent to commit war crimes and violate posse comitatus. These more serious headlines and quotes here: https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220686640#post10

[tblue37]

1. Disgusting--both of them!

[generalbetrayus]

2. Drunky McFuckstick after his speech: "And a good time was had by all."

(I took journalism in high school.)

[usonian]

3. Two Commandants were dismissed for the unforgivable crime

of being female.

I'd carve that lush a new ...



"highest male standard" ?
I've got your highest male standard RIGHT HERE.

...

[brakester]

29. Which 2 commandments?

And,
Only 2?

[usonian]

40. Navy and Coast Guard. Commandants.

The only two females.

Admiral Franchetti, Navy
Admiral Fagan, Coast Guard.

Spell checker got you.

Semper Paratus. CG vet.

I don't recall other 4-stars being fired.

[brakester]

78. Thanks, usonian!

I mistook the word Commandants for commandments !!!

Haha!

[usonian]

81. I blame autocorrect.

FOR EVERYTHING!
And have a grape dog!

[AZJonnie]

4. I see US outlets headlines pick out some of the tamest shit these guys said and did

We can always count on them to hold Dear Leader accountable

The comments about using US cities as military training grounds and rejecting "stupid rules of engagement" are fucking TREASON

[pat_k]

10. You are of course absolutely correct. A couple more headlines.

Trump suggests using ‘dangerous’ US cities as ‘training grounds’ for military (The Hill)

“They’re very unsafe places, and we’re going to straighten them out one by one,” Trump said. “And this is going to be a major part for some of the people in this room. That’s a war, too. It’s a war from within.”

“I told [Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth], we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military — National Guard, but our military, because we’re going into Chicago very soon,” Trump added. “That’s a big city with an incompetent governor.”

“America is under invasion from within. We’re under invasion from within,” Trump said Tuesday. “No different than a foreign enemy, but more difficult in many ways because they don’t wear uniforms.”

(Calling it a "war from within" and "invasion from within" is truly insidious given that insurrection is the only exception to Posse Comitias.)

Hegseth: 'Defense' is out, 'killing people and breaking things' is in (Responsible Statecraft)

"A few months ago, I was at the White House when President Trump announced his liberation day for America's trade policy. It was a landmark day, while today is another Liberation Day, the liberation of America's warriors in name, in deed and in authorities,"

"We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for war fighters," he said. "It's very simple yet incredibly powerful."

(To the extent that the rules of engagement are designed to comply with the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, violations are certainly war crimes.)

[AZJonnie]

17. The less mainstream ones (that reach a lot less people) are being less tame in headlines than the mainstream ones

Using our cities as military training grounds, and cheering on war crimes, are two of the more serious things that were said. "Fat-shaming" is much lower on the list (no offense to anyone for whom it's very bothersome, I just mean it doesn't rise to the level of FUCKING TREASON like some of the other stuff that was said, but is being seen in the headlines of the M$M).

[pat_k]

25. If he is truly hell bent on deploying regular troops in cities. . .

...I think we will be seeing a lot less "rampant crime" propaganda, and a lot more "war from within" "enemy within" and other "insurrection-y" talk. As if mere words can transform the situation from one of law enforcement to one of "putting down an insurrection."

It is hard to decide which is worse, preparing the ground to unlawfully deploy our military against our own people, or preparing the ground for our military to commit war crimes?

And then of course there is the blatant statement of intent to violate the Inspector General Act of 1978 (as amended). The DoD OIG was established as an INDEPENDENT office in 1982 to implement the provisions.

You can't make this shit up. They are using declarations of ending "waste, fraud, and abuse" as cover for gutting the executive branch and looting public funds for cronies, while simultaneously corrupting and undermining the independent operation of the very offices that prevent and detect waste, fraud, and abuse as a key part of their mission.

[brakester]

31. This is definitely

a major escalation in their

War against We The People!

[yellow dahlia]

33. I didn't see the Kegsbreath speech.

Is he the one that said "stupid rules of engagement", or did it slip by me while watching the grifter's deranged speech?

I feel like my face is posed like "The Scream".

Update: I just found the answer to my question in a comment below (#13). Yikes! Kegsbreath is saying that International law and other legalities and moralities no longer apply.

[pat_k]

41. All sorts of declarations of intent -- to commit war crimes, violate IG law of 1978, violate posse comitatus...

and I'm sure there are more. I can't stomach reading a transcript.

They aren't even pretending to give a shit about the law, the constitution, traditions of human decency, or anything else that may get in the way of their mass corruption and theft.

Because that is what this is all ultimately about. It started with the thuggery of ICE as the way to frighten the nation into submission while they steal, steal, steal. Now they are upping their game by threatening (and soon making good on those threats) to deploy active duty military against us.

As Oliver Kornetzke points out: There’s no grand ideology. There’s only theft. Power is just a means to steal more...

...Trump, a failed businessman and serial conman, didn’t stumble into power because he had a vision. He stumbled into it like a raccoon into a jewelry store: overwhelmed, opportunistic, and desperate to grab everything shiny before the lights come on. He brought with him a gang of similarly hollow, self-serving goons—parasites in flag pins—who recognized that brute force and spectacle could serve as a perfect cover for mass-scale corruption. All they needed was enough boots, enough masks, and enough Americans too scared or too exhausted to resist...

That’s what ICE is now—a terror squad designed not just to punish the “other,” but to frighten the rest into submission. They don’t need to knock on your door. They just need you to see what happens when they knock on hers. They want you disoriented, enraged, heartbroken, and above all—silent.

https://thehobbledehoy.com/tag/oliver-kornetzke/

[yellow dahlia]

42. I'm nauseous.

[brakester]

79. Great comment!

He brought with him a gang of similarly hollow, self-serving goons—parasites in flag pins—who recognized that brute force and spectacle could serve as a perfect cover for mass-scale corruption.

Well-said!

[pat_k]

84. Oliver certainly has a way with words.

The whole article is great.

[pat_k]

65. Speaking of "The Scream"

Here's a shot of Me, Andy_Stephenson (d. 2005, In Memoriam), and KaryninMiami (d. 2015, In Memoriam) at the Conference on Election Reform in Nashville, April 2005.

Our "Not Another Stolen Election!" Scream inspired by Andy's "Not Again" t-shirt.

[yellow dahlia]

66. So apropos for recent weeks/months.

Thank you for sharing the picture with these special friends, who live on in memory..

I did not know who Andy Stephenson was, however Mr. Dahlia did. Mr. Dahlia was new to DU in 2005, and Andy Stephenson left an impression.

[pat_k]

67. Andy was an election reform warrior and an all around good egg.

Mr. Dahlia may know some of the folks in this photo too. This was Jan 6, 2005, when we (along with countless people from Ohio and across the nation) were lobbying for an objection to the Ohio electors and actually got Sen. Barbara Boxer to stand with Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones (who is also no longer with us).

Of the two guys with beards and glasses, the dark haired one was Senator here on DU, the love of my life, and the person taking our "Scream" photo (d. 2011, In Memoriam). The lighter haired one is Truthout's Will Pitt (WilliamPitt on DU, d. 2022, In Memorium). This time I'm the one behind the camera.

[yellow dahlia]

68. Thank you for sharing images and memories of loved ones lost,

including your partner Dusty. They lived lives worth remembering.

Mr. Dahlia didn't know Dusty. He did interact with WRP regularly over the years (DU, JPR, FB). I became of aware of WRP in his later years. I sometimes say: what would WRP say. So much intellect lost!

I am new to DU. Thank you for being here. The times are challenging us - we need each other.

[pat_k]

72. Yes. Keeping hope alive in these times requires the four C's -- with the first being Connection,

followed by Creativity, Courage, and Commitment. And to turn the tide, we need a fifth C, Crowds! I think more people will turn out in more places on Oct 18 then at any previous day of action.

Right after the election I posted something that I still need to remind myself of:

1. Mourn. That will take all kinds of forms. Lashing out in anger or despair included, but we can help support each other in ways that ultimately preserve hope and reject the cynicism that immobilizes. Which leads to #2

2. Take care of each other. Support each other and share ideas for staying sane and engaged over the coming months and years.

3. Take care of ourselves. Encourage each other to connect with things that nourish us -- personally. We need to keep up our strength.

4. Keep an eye on developments. I think there are going to be some creative things emerging that promote citizens working together in ways to shape their communities, shape attitudes, and accomplish some pretty great things, both large and small. I highly recommend Alberto Alemanno's, Lobbying for Change: Finding Your Voice to Build a Better Society

[yellow dahlia]

73. Yes to all the C's!

I'm on board with all of them.

It is not easy to stay sane, because keeping informed requires so much commitment. I have but one sanity to give for my country.

Thank you for all the words of encouragement and recommendations.

Crowds! Everywhere - all at once!

Peacefully protesting - I am an aging white hippie. Do I look like a terrorist?

[brakester]

80. Hahaha!

"Aging white hippies" are the most dangerous kind according to the PedoPrez and his jack-booted friends!

I'm one, too!

I salute you!

Take care of yourself.

[yellow dahlia]

82. Thanks!

[Johnny2X2X]

5. Still not accurate headlines

Waiting for the true one, "Wannabe dictator threatens nation's generals with firing if they don't support his attempts to overthrow our Democracy"

He laid it all out, basically said, "I am a dictator and anyone who stands in my way is going to be steam rolled." Basically telling these generals to ignore all of the oaths they took.

[pat_k]

36. Yep. Toss Rules of Engagement out the window (and thus declare intent to commit war crimes),

declare intent to use the military in civilian law enforcement, in violation of posse comitatus (doesn't matter how many times you declare war against "an enemy within," the variety of unrelated criminal acts law enforcement deals with are not an insurrection), declare intent to violate the Inspector General Act of 1978, under which Federal Inspectors General (IGs) are required by law to accept anonymous complaints...

They are not hiding their contempt for, and intent to violate the law and traditions of decency.

[Totally Tunsie]

6. "Beatings will continue until morale improves."

So let me get this straight: Secretary of WAR Hogsbreath is complaining about those in the military who complain? Ummmm....

[Ping Tung]

7. New recruiting poster: Join up NOW! Manly-Men only. Preferably white and obedient.

[Gimpyknee]

16. And must be clean shaven.

[MyOwnPeace]

23. I guess we're done

with Grant and Lee (you remember Lee - the one guilty of treason against the US government, and now being ‘re-glorified’ by our new Gestapo Commanders…).

[lonely bird]

47. Which is aimed at

Black men some of whom have a skin issue that shaving aggravates.

But Kegstand isn’t racist.

[sheshe2]

28. I change...

White and obedient subservient.

[Baitball Blogger]

8. And it's not even the onion.

[Johonny]

9. Dont elect stupid people

Sadly many in the room voted to be yelled at by a nut

[Blue Owl]

11. What did the drunk guy say again?

[pat_k]

13. I missed the one about advocating war crimes.

Hegseth: 'Defense' is out, 'killing people and breaking things' is in (Responsible Statecraft)

"A few months ago, I was at the White House when President Trump announced his liberation day for America's trade policy. It was a landmark day, while today is another Liberation Day, the liberation of America's warriors in name, in deed and in authorities,"

"We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our war fighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement, just common sense, maximum lethality and authority for war fighters," he said. "It's very simple yet incredibly powerful."

(To the extent that the rules of engagement are designed to comply with the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, violations are certainly war crimes.)

[yellow dahlia]

35. Yikes!

[thomski64]

43. Don't be fat. Except. of course You,sir Mango

[Iggo]

12. Men worshipping men again.

Who’s going to tell them?

[pat_k]

15. The way he talks it's like every soldier, sailor, and marine is out there engaged in hand-to-hand combat.

They've watched too many movies glorifying close-quarters, personal fights that have absolutely nothing to do with reality for a vast majority of the military.

[Skittles]

56. straight white men fearing not being the center of the universe

it's must more of the "masculinity crisis" for the biggest snowflakes on the planet

[chowder66]

14. We Demand Lean Male Meat For Our Grinder!!!!

That can be read in more way than one... if you choose.

[AZJonnie]

18. I see what you did there

[Orrex]

19. That would have been a great time for him to stroke out

So would literally any time, of course, but still.

[pat_k]

32. My fantasy would be a walk out -- neat and disciplined filing out by rows, as...

... Hegseth and Trump sputter and rage and scream that they are all fired.

What fantastic television that would have been.

And what a giant leap in the right direction for this nation.

We all have our little dreams.

[Lonestarblue]

20. " No more frivolous complaints, no more anonymous complaints."

Any female filing a complaint of rape or sexual harassment will be booted out immediately and her rapist promoted. The new warrior ethos, as rape is a weapon of war.

[erronis]

22. One of the more egregious spewings. I imagine military commisars will be attached to every unit

to handle these unfortunate events....

[pat_k]

30. Federal Inspectors General (IGs) are required by law to accept anonymous complaints.

The Inspector General Act of 1978 and other statutes protect individuals who wish to report waste, fraud, and abuse without revealing their identity.

There is of course a distinction between the requirement to accept anonymous complaints and the requirement to keep sources confidential. (The IG knows your identity but will not reveal it outside the office unless required by law or if the IG determines it is "unavoidable" for the investigation.)

While they are required by law to accept and follow up on anonymous complaints, they encourage people to reveal their identify with assurances of confidentiality because being unable to follow up with the person can hinder effective action in the matter.

[IcyPeas]

21. "President Bonespurs".... that's all I'd be thinking if I were sitting there.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rails against 'fat generals' and calls for physical fitness standards (NBC)

'If I Don't Like Somebody, I'll Fire Them': Trump Warns Military Officials Before Quantico Visit (India's Times Now World)

[Biophilic]

24. Interesting, he obviously hasn't paid any attention to the war in Ukraine and who's beating who and why.

It's brains that can't think outside the box, or the muscle.

[pat_k]

27. He's watched too many movies glorifying close-quarters combat that has little to do the reality for the vast majority...

... of our soldiers, sailors, and marines.

[LiberalArkie]

46. I doest think he may like the close quarters of fellow male soldiers

[Ray Bruns]

26. "Is he unilaterally discharging all the women!?? That would be 15 or 20% of all those serving!"

You know the misogynistic prick wants to and would if he thought for a second he would get away with it.

[Prairie Gates]

34. I thought all the special forces guys were "beardos" since the Mideast Wars?

Don't they all run around with beards and kaffiyahs?

[ananda]

37. This was just a departmental whinefest loaded with magagripes.

No wonder the officers were royally pissed off.

[PatSeg]

38. Well, that was an awfully expensive diversion

Like people are going to forget the Epstein files.

[pat_k]

52. Timed with the budget deadline to distract from our powerful messaging on refusing to be accomplices in Republicans'...

Lawless cruelty

Republicans want to cut your healthcare so badly, they'll shut down the government to do it!

More suggestions on the messages to hammer from Tamara Massengale Miro @UnmuteAlabama

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220675016

[PatSeg]

61. It is truly mindboggling

What kind of people make it a lifelong goal to hurt other people?

[pat_k]

62. The type of people who amass power for one purpose:

to steal.

It is all about the corruption and theft. The threats of brute force, whether from ICE or the military are a means to dominate and provide cover for what they actually care about. As Oliver Kornetzke points out: There’s no grand ideology. There’s only theft. Power is just a means to steal more...

...Trump, a failed businessman and serial conman, didn’t stumble into power because he had a vision. He stumbled into it like a raccoon into a jewelry store: overwhelmed, opportunistic, and desperate to grab everything shiny before the lights come on. He brought with him a gang of similarly hollow, self-serving goons—parasites in flag pins—who recognized that brute force and spectacle could serve as a perfect cover for mass-scale corruption. All they needed was enough boots, enough masks, and enough Americans too scared or too exhausted to resist...

That’s what ICE is now—a terror squad designed not just to punish the “other,” but to frighten the rest into submission. They don’t need to knock on your door. They just need you to see what happens when they knock on hers. They want you disoriented, enraged, heartbroken, and above all—silent.

https://thehobbledehoy.com/tag/oliver-kornetzke/

Raiding our treasury was what the horrific and massive transfer of wealth in the reconciliation package was about. They shoved that down the throats of the minority party, even though they knew they could not implement the spending cuts without Democratic votes on a budget before 10/1.

And they didn't care.

They believed they could shove the most unpopular cuts in my memory down the throats of the American people when the time came. And if they couldn't, all good. They would just use the shutdown to complete the decimation of the executive branch and in the chaos, they'd have ever greater opportunities for increasingly massive corruption and theft.

[AverageOldGuy]

39. Speaking as an old soldier

I served 1967 - 1995; artillery officer, Ranger, Vietnam veteran, one year in the bush as an artillery forward observer with 1st Cav. Wounds from Vietnam limited my physical performance, so, I transferred to Military Intelligence branch, learned Chinese, spent a long time all over Asia.

At age 80 I still knock out 100 pushups, 100 situps, and a lot of lifts, squats, and presses five days a week.

Hegseth does not impress me. Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. He's a fake, a phony, a loser, a comic-book caricature. Trump is a worthless pile of dog shit.

After I calm down I'll come back and tell everyone what I really think of Trump, Hogsbreath, and their speeches to real men and women.

[LiberalArkie]

44. "highest male standard" just simply means that is the only trans person they will allow.

Only women who have transitioned to a macho male. Only homosexual men of the "biker" type.

Only Macho Macho men

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

45. But being a fall down drunk is manly

Right Kegbreath?

[lonely bird]

48. Just a question...

When will the era of stupid, racist, misogynistic, drunk motherfuckers be over?

[pat_k]

49. I firmly believe it will be sooner then they think.

I'm just an old fogey, but over the years, I think you do come to "sense" when the winds are changing. I'm with Robert Reich. Something is up. With every excess, they become more wildly unpopular. I really think a tipping point may come sooner than anyone imagines.

The sleeping giant is awakening
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-sleeping-giant-is-awakening

[pat_k]

50. Deleted

[ImNotGod]

51. Headline should be Military goes through final Nazification Phase. nt

[LetMyPeopleVote]

53. MaddowBlog-Why Pete Hegseth's pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected

Did the secretary bring generals and admirals in from around the world so he could treat them like a CPAC audience? Actually, yes, he did.

Why Pete Hegseth’s pitch to generals and admirals was even worse than expected

flip.it/GIAS0g

— (@gypsydaveh.bsky.social) 2025-09-30T16:25:32.516Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/pete-hegseth-speech-generals-admirals-rcna234674

But having heard the secretary’s remarks, he proved to be even worse than expected. Reuters reported:

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed ‘fat generals’ and diversity initiatives that he said led to decades of decay in the military and told a rare gathering of commanders on Tuesday they should resign if they don’t support his agenda. ‘Foolish and reckless political leaders set the wrong compass heading and we lost our way. We became the “Woke Department,”’ Hegseth said as he kicked off the event in Quantico, Virginia. ‘But not anymore,’ he said.

Choosing the worst moment from Hegseth’s bizarre and unnecessary speech is admittedly challenging. Was it his boasts about firing qualified military leaders? Or maybe his condemnation of diversity initiatives and climate change as “s---” that the military will no longer care about?.....

Maybe the lowest of the low points was Hegseth’s comment that seemed to open the door to a new attitude toward war crimes. “We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don’t fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country,” he declared. “No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement.”

Hegseth: "We unleash overwhelming and punishing violence on the enemy. We also don't fight with stupid rules of engagement. We untie the hands of our warfighters to intimidate, demoralize, hunt, and kill the enemies of our country. No more politically correct and overbearing rules of engagement."

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2025-09-30T13:06:31.204Z

In other words, Hegseth spent millions of taxpayer dollars to bring generals and admirals in from around the world so that he could treat them like a CPAC audience.

As for those in attendance who might’ve been uncomfortable with the secretary’s absurdities, he extended some advice to them, too. “If the words I’m speaking today are making your heart sink, then you should do the honorable thing and resign,” Hegseth said.

[pat_k]

60. Glad she called out the declaration of intent to commit war crimes.

I wish she mentioned that this is likely a plot to get Democrats in an uproar about something else when they need to be 100% focused on their powerful messaging on refusing to be accomplices in Republicans' cruel and cowardly budget.

That is the answer to "why today?"

Republicans want to cut your healthcare so badly, they'll shut down the government to do it!

More suggestions on the messages to hammer from Tamara Massengale Miro @UnmuteAlabama

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220675016

[NameAlreadyTaken]

54. Why is Hegseth obsessed with in-shape men?

[hedda_foil]

55. Is today the turning point, one way or the other?

The generals have the nation's and the world's future in their hands. Which way will they choose to go? Their oath to the Constitution or the will of a dictator?

[pat_k]

57. I fear this will percolate a bit. The moment of crisis will come with

.. an actual order to deploy regular army against American citizens (not a meaningless "full force" declaration that can be effectively ignored without consequence because they don't take orders by tweet).

[Klarkashton]

58. So which war are we being prepared for with all this

Crazy shit? They didn't put on this show for nothing.

[pat_k]

59. Not for nothing.

My theory is that it was timed as a massive distraction from the budget deadline to get Democrats in an uproar about something else when they need to be 100% focused on their powerful messaging on refusing to be accomplices in Republicans' lawless cruelty.

Republicans want to cut your healthcare so badly, they'll shut down the government to do it!

More suggestions on the messages to hammer from Tamara Massengale Miro @UnmuteAlabama

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220675016

[Totally Tunsie]

63. Sing it loud!

[pat_k]

64. Priceless!

[Tanuki]

69. Speaking of unacceptable appearance and things that are

divisive and distracting, what about Hegseth's offensive tattoos? They were deemed so weird and unsettling that he was excluded from the National Guard presence in D.C. during President Biden's Inauguration, if I remember correctly

[Jack Valentino]

70. Hegseth's offensive tattoos:

AI Overview (Google)
As of March 2025, President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has faced controversy over several of his tattoos. Critics allege they have associations with extremist groups and express Islamophobia, while Hegseth defends them as expressions of his Christian faith and patriotism.

Controversial tattoos and criticisms
Arabic word for "infidel": A tattoo on his right forearm of the Arabic word kafir, which translates to "infidel" or "nonbeliever," drew accusations of anti-Muslim hostility after it was revealed in March 2025. Islamic advocacy groups condemned the tattoo as a deliberate provocation.

"Deus Vult": This Latin phrase, meaning "God wills it," was a battle cry during the Crusades and is now frequently used by white nationalist groups. A fellow National Guard member raised concerns about this tattoo in January 2021, flagging Hegseth as a potential "insider threat" to his superiors.
Jerusalem Cross: Hegseth has a large Jerusalem Cross on his chest, a symbol dating back to the Crusades that has also been adopted by some far-right Christian nationalist groups. Hegseth claims that this tattoo led to his removal from National Guard duty before President Biden's 2021 inauguration.
Bible verse tattoo: Hegseth has a tattoo referencing Matthew 10:34, which he interprets as "not peace, but a sword". This verse and its interpretation are also used by some Christian extremist movements.
Hegseth's defense and context
Religious symbols: Hegseth has repeatedly described his tattoos as symbols of his faith, not white nationalism. During his January 2025 confirmation hearing, he described the Jerusalem Cross as "a historic Christian symbol".
Inauguration removal: Hegseth contends he was deemed an extremist and removed from his National Guard post for the 2021 inauguration due to his tattoos, which he calls "anti-Christian bigotry". However, the National Guard member who made the complaint clarified to ABC News that it was the "Deus Vult" tattoo that was flagged, not the Jerusalem Cross.
Patriotic tattoos: In addition to the controversial symbols, Hegseth has other tattoos focused on American patriotism, including a "Join, or Die" snake, "We the People," and an American flag with an AR-15.


I am really starting to like that Google AI overview to search questions! Saves me a lot of time as opposed to delving into various websites....

[pat_k]

75. I'm finding Google AI (Gemini) summaries very useful too.

Although I've noticed a few objections from other posters to the use of AI to provide answers... or perhaps it's just objection to Chat GPT

[pat_k]

74. Oh, but tattoos are manly!! (Because he has them. Beardos would be manly too, if he sported one.)

What the heck is a "beardo" anyway?

Or a "gender delusion"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Abolishinist]

71. "It's completely unacceptable to see fat generals and admirals"

I agree, as long as this should apply doubly so for their Commander in Chief!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

76. These officers are getting a special medal for yesterday

[pat_k]

77. I love this!

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

83. Hegseth has a deep HATRED for women. Yesterday, he spoke to Navy football players about leadership "FOR THE MEN"

“That's going to be your life, not just in this game, but for the rest of your life when you're wearing a different kind of uniform. There's going to be (expletive) days, there's going to be tough days, there's going to be frustrations. You're going to have bad leaders. You're going to have good leaders, clear missions and missions with no clarity at all,” Hegseth said. “What you do in those moments is what's going to be the difference between life and death for the men, for the Americans, for the sailors, for the Seals, for the Marines that you lead.”