
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, is in trouble again. On March 25, 2025, he posted pictures on X of himself exercising with Navy SEALs in Hawaii. In one photo, people saw a tattoo on his right arm that says “كافر” (kafir) in Arabic. This word means “nonbeliever” or “infidel” in Islam—someone who doesn’t believe in God or rejects Islam’s truth. It’s right below his “Deus Vult” tattoo, which means “God wills it” in Latin and comes from old Christian wars called the Crusades.
This mix of tattoos upset a lot of people. Some say it’s a big insult to Muslims. Nerdeen Kiswani, an activist, said on X that it’s not just a tattoo—it’s a sign of hate against Muslims from the guy in charge of America’s wars. A group called CAIR, which stands up for Muslim rights, agreed. Their leader, Nihad Awad, said it shows Hegseth doesn’t like Muslims and feels unsure of himself. He added that Hegseth should remember he leads a military with many Muslim soldiers and protects a country with millions of Muslim people.
But not everyone’s mad. Some folks, especially veterans, say “kafir” is a word soldiers use to push back against terrorists, not all Muslims. On X, a user named Brother Rasheed said it’s common on hats and shirts for vets who fought in places like Iraq. Another person, Dilly Hussain, said it just shows how America thinks about Muslims anyway—no big surprise.
The tattoo’s timing makes it worse. Hegseth is already dealing with a mess called “Signalgate,” where he accidentally shared secret war plans about Yemen with a journalist. Now, this tattoo has people asking if he’s fit to lead. Critics say it’s a dumb move for a Defense Secretary. Supporters say it’s just him being himself—a tough, Christian guy who doesn’t care what people think.
No one’s sure when he got the tattoo. Some think it’s new; others say it was hidden before. Either way, it’s got everyone talking. What do you think about it?
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