Pete Hegseth

Early life and education

Peter Brian Hegseth was born on June 6, 1980, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is of Norwegian descent. He was the first child of Brian and Penelope "Penny" (Haugen) Hegseth.{{Efn|Brian and Penny had two children after Hegseth: Nate (born ) and Philip (born ). who has taught with the Minnesota Excellence in Public Service (MEPS) Series, a fellowship and leadership program for Republican and center-right women. and attended Forest Lake Area High School. He graduated in 1999 as valedictorian.

After high school, Hegseth enrolled at Princeton University, where he majored in politics for his Bachelor of Arts degree from the Ivy League school. According to Reserve & National Guard Magazine, he chose Princeton over an offer from the United States Military Academy to play for the school's basketball team. Months before the September 11 attacks, Hegseth joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. During his years at Princeton, Hegseth

In April 2002, Hegseth declared that, as publisher of The Princeton Tory, he would "defend the pillars of Western civilization against the distractions of diversity". The editors of The Princeton Tory criticized Halle Berry for accepting the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Monster's Ball (2001) "on behalf of an entire race", and The New York Times for announcing that it would print gay marriage announcements, arguing that it would justify publishing marriage announcements for incestuous, zoophilic, and pedophilic relationships. In October, The Princeton Tory published an editorial calling homosexuality immoral. In response, the president of Princeton's student government, Nina Langsam, wrote a strongly worded email to Hegseth and The Princeton Torys publisher, Brad Simmons. Her email was published in the following issue.

Career

Military service (2003–2006, 2010–2014, 2019–2021)

After graduating from Princeton in 2003, Hegseth was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army through the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps program. He briefly worked as an equity-markets analyst at Bear Stearns. He began his tour in Baghdad before moving to Samarra, working with the city council and forming an alliance with councilmember Asaad Ali Yaseen.

In 2010, Hegseth deployed with the Minnesota Army National Guard as a counterinsurgency instructor. He was barred from serving on duty at the inauguration of Joe Biden after a guardsman flagged Hegseth as an "insider threat", noting a tattoo on his biceps of the words Deus vult. He left the Individual Ready Reserve in January 2024, writing in his book The War on Warriors (2024) that he resigned over the incident.

Political activism (2006–2016)

By August 2006, by 2007, he was working full-time as an executive director, and by 2008, he became the organization's president. In the months leading up to the 2008 United States presidential election, Vets for Freedom began supporting McCain. As the group's chairman, he criticized Democratic nominee Barack Obama for supporting "a dangerous policy of irreversible withdrawal." By January 2009, Vets for Freedom had accrued hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid bills, leading to an internal campaign to oust Hegseth. The group merged with Military Families United, and he was removed from leadership by 2011.

After returning to Minnesota in February 2012, By April, his campaign had raised . Hegseth lost to Kurt Bills in the Republican convention in May, and withdrew his nomination days later. He founded MN PAC to support similar candidates, though a third of the organization's funds went to parties for personal friends and family. that year. The group criticized Obama for the 2014 Veterans Health Administration controversy. Hegseth enrolled in the Harvard Kennedy School in 2009, but completed just one semester; to protest the offering of classes in critical race theory at Harvard University, he reportedly wrote "Return to sender" on his degree and sent it back to the university.

Hegseth left Concerned Veterans for America in January 2016 after allegations of financial mismanagement and alcoholism. A whistleblower report accused Hegseth of fostering a sexist and hostile workplace at Concerned Veterans for America; one whistleblower claimed that Hegseth had used organization funds as a personal expense account. Another former employee claimed he had witnessed Hegseth drunkenly chanting "Kill all Muslims!" Hegseth told podcaster Shawn Ryan that Trump found him too young to assume the position. After Shulkin fell out of favor with the Trump administration in March 2018, Hegseth positioned himself as a potential candidate, but Trump selected Robert Wilkie after consulting Hegseth and financier Isaac Perlmutter.

Fox News (2014–2024)

By June 2014, Hegseth was given a position as a regular contributor to Fox News by the network's executive, Roger Ailes. In 2016, he was briefly a host on TheBlaze before regularly hosting Fox & Friends Weekend that year after Ailes's resignation, becoming an official co-host in January 2017. He hosted All-American New Year (2018) with commentator Lisa Kennedy.

Hegseth's opinions expressed on Fox & Friends influenced Trump's policymaking in his first term. In October 2018, as a migrant caravan began traveling to the United States, Trump claimed that "unknown Middle Easterners" had infiltrated the caravan. Trump apparently cited a comment that Hegseth had made on Fox & Friends, though Hegseth said he had not verified his statement's accuracy. Hegseth had apparently based his claim on a statement Guatemalan president Jimmy Morales made after capturing 100 ISIS fighters in the country. In negotiations to avert a federal government shutdown, Democrats neared a deal until Hegseth urged Trump not to support a deal that did not include billion for his border wall. Trump repeated claims Hegseth had made correlating video games with mass shootings after two mass shootings in El Paso and in Dayton in August 2019. Hegseth said he had spoken to Trump about pardoning war criminal Clint Lorance, accused murderer Mathew L. Golsteyn, as well as reversing the demotion of Eddie Gallagher.

thumb|right|200px|Hegseth while being mobilized to the [[District of Columbia Army National Guard|Washington D.C. National Guard]], June 2020 At Fox News, Hegseth was the subject of multiple lawsuits. In 2015, he threw an axe during a Flag Day event in New York City, accidentally hitting a drummer from the United States Military Academy. Video of the incident circulated widely online. The drummer, Jeff Prosperie, alleged that he had suffered "severe and serious personal injuries to his mind and body" and "permanent effects of pain, disability, disfigurement and loss of body function." Prosperie sued Hegseth three years later; the suit was resolved in an unspecified way in 2019. In Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News Network (2023), Dominion Voting Systems included a segment of Fox & Friends Weekend featuring Hegseth with co-hosts Will Cain and Rachel Campos-Duffy, in which they did not reject claims by Rudy Giuliani that the company's voting machines facilitated voting fraud.

Hegseth was chosen among Fox News's hosts to be featured on Fox Nation, the network's streaming service. To promote the service, he co-hosted a one-hour special, Fox Nation First Look, with Jesse Watters, Tomi Lahren, Britt McHenry, and Tyrus. On Fox Nation, Hegseth hosted The Miseducation of America (2022–2023), a television program criticizing "the Left's educational agenda". He also hosted the series Battle in the Holy Land (2019–2023), The Life of Jesus (2022–2023), and the special Battle in Bethlehem (2019), on the service.

Secretary of Defense (2025–present)

Nomination and confirmation

On November 12, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump named Hegseth as his nominee for secretary of defense, after Arkansas senator Tom Cotton announced he would not serve as secretary. Hegseth subsequently ended his contract with Fox News.}} and his relative lack of experience surprised officials in the department. According to Vanity Fair, Trump's transition team became aware the following day of a sexual assault allegation involving Hegseth that occurred in Monterey, California, seven years prior; The Washington Post reported that senior officials on the team were surprised by the allegation and reconsidered his nomination. Despite the allegation, Trump defended Hegseth and several Republican senators indicated that they would support him. His nomination was threatened by an article from Jane Mayer in The New Yorker detailing alleged financial mismanagement and alcohol issues while leading his veterans' groups, The New York Times reported in December that Trump had begun to consider Florida governor Ron DeSantis as an alternative.

In an effort to retain his nomination amid controversies, Hegseth began a campaign that month. Advisors to Trump privately sought to persuade him to support Hegseth in fear that it would embolden recalcitrant Republican senators, while he could not garner support for DeSantis, according to The New York Times. In addition, the Times reported that Vice President-elect JD Vance had led a group of Republicans, including Donald Trump Jr., former Trump aide Steve Bannon, political activist Charlie Kirk, and Breitbart News reporter Matt Boyle. Trump allies took a direct approach to addressing the controversies, including an interview with Megyn Kelly that impressed Trump. Hegseth appeared at the United States Capitol; Trump publicly reaffirmed his support for Hegseth afterwards. The visit gave Iowa senator Joni Ernst, who had threatened his nomination, a positive impression of Hegseth.

Hegseth appeared before the Senate Committee on Armed Services on January 14. He positioned himself as a "warrior" while denying the allegations and his previous claims that women should not serve in combat roles. Hegseth was criticized by Democrats over allegations of sexual misconduct, financial mismanagement, and alcohol issues. Rhode Island senator Jack Reed, the committee's ranking member, noted that Hegseth had used the term "jagoff" in his book The War on Warriors (2024) to derogatorily refer to a Judge Advocate General officer who reprimanded him on the use of rocket-propelled grenades. He did not answer a question from Virginia senator Tim Kaine on whether or not sexual assault, drinking, or infidelity were disqualifying. The Committee on Armed Services voted to advance his nomination 14–13 along party lines on January 20, after Trump was inaugurated. Hegseth's former sister-in-law, Danielle, sent an affidavit to senators alleging that he was abusive to his second wife, Samantha, and that he had issues with over-consumption of alcohol. Hegseth denied having a drinking problem and pledged not to drink if confirmed.

On January 24, Hegseth was confirmed by the Senate in a 51–50 vote. Every Republican senator, with the exception of Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitch McConnell, voted to confirm him, while every Democratic senator opposed his nomination, leading to a 50–50 vote. Vance cast a tie-breaking vote to confirm Hegseth. His confirmation was threatened by Senator Thom Tillis, who told Senate majority leader John Thune the day before that he would not vote for Hegseth on the basis of his sexual assault allegations. Persuaded by Vance, Tillis expressed support for Hegseth on X minutes before the vote. His confirmation was the second in US history to be decided by a vice president, after Betsy DeVos's confirmation for secretary of education in 2017.

Vance swore Hegseth in as secretary of defense on January 25. Hegseth identified several priorities for the Department of Defense, including to "revive the warrior ethos", restore trust in the military, redevelop the nation's industrial base, ease the department's process to purchase weaponry, defend the US domestically, engage with Indo-Pacific to deter China, and support Trump's effort to "end wars responsibly"—including the Russo-Ukrainian War and the Middle Eastern crisis.

Initial actions

In a call to Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a day after being sworn in, Hegseth said that the United States was "fully committed" to the security of Israel. Hegseth revoked the security clearance and detail of Mark Milley, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and chief of staff of the Army who later became a critic of Trump, and ordered an inspector general inquiry into Milley's tenure as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the inspector general of the Department of Defense, Robert Storch, was removed from his position when Trump dismissed several inspectors general. According to The Washington Post, the Department of Defense Education Activity began removing certain books on immigration and sexuality.

Hegseth visited the Mexico–United States border with Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, in El Paso, Texas, in February, where he stated that the federal government intended to gain complete "operational control of the southern border". He renamed Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg, its original name honoring the Confederate general Braxton Bragg. The military base was now ostensibly renamed for Roland L. Bragg, a previously obscure soldier who served in World War II. In a meeting before the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at NATO headquarters, he opposed NATO membership for Ukraine and said that returning Ukraine's borders prior to the annexation of Crimea by Russia was "unrealistic". The Department of Defense invited Jack Posobiec, an alt-right political activist to accompany Hegseth, according to The Washington Post. Hegseth moderated his comments the following day, stating that it would be possible for Ukraine to join NATO given Trump's discretion.

In February 2025, Hegseth ordered officials within the Department of Defense to reduce funding on most initiatives and began a purge from within the department, firing three top judge advocate generals and Lisa Franchetti, the chief of naval operations. Hegseth stated that "we want lawyers who give sound constitutional advice" rather than "roadblocks to anything". In March, he ordered US Cyber Command to halt offensive operations against Russia, in an apparent effort to encourage Russian president Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the Russo-Ukrainian War. Also that month, the Defense Department canceled 91 of its research studies, including those on climate change impacts and social trends, while Hegseth later stated that the Defense Department "does not do climate change crap." Separately, the Trump administration instructed Hegseth to "immediately" present "credible military options to ensure fair and unfettered US military and commercial access to the Panama Canal".

In April 2025, Hegseth issued a directive to the secretary of the Army ordering on a sweeping overhaul, prioritizing defending the homeland and deterring China in the Indo-Pacific. Among others, the directive instructing a consolidated budget lines in unmanned systems, counter-drone systems and electronic warfare, force structure changes and expanded use of other transaction agreements. The directive also instructed to downsize or close redundant headquarters as well as merging Army Futures Command and Training and Doctrine Command, and merging four-star headquarters Army Forces Command with Army North and Army South into a single headquarters focused on homeland defense as well as the elimination of at least 20% of four-star general positions to enhance efficiency and operational effectiveness. Hegseth also signed a memorandum to reduce the Department of Defense's civilian workforce, aiming to eliminate duplicative efforts and excessive bureaucracy. The initiative includes offering voluntary early retirement and deferred resignation programs to incentivize top performers and enhance efficiency.

Information disclosures and use of Signal

In March 2025, Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported that he had been accidentally included by Mike Waltz in a Signal group chat where Hegseth shared information about attacks in Yemen hours before they occurred. The discussions involved US officials, including Vance and secretary of state Marco Rubio. According to The New York Times, several officials with the Department of Defense expressed shock at the incident, while various former national security officials noted the potential for espionage amid ongoing efforts by China to obtain telecommunications records. A spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed Goldberg's report and the authenticity of the messages. Hegseth rejected that war plans were shared and called Goldberg "deceitful" and a "discredited so-called journalist". Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said no classified information was shared and CIA director John Ratcliffe said Signal was authorized for the group chat.

The incident distressed Hegseth, who threatened to use a polygraph on Christopher W. Grady, the acting chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Goldberg later published most of the Signal chat. The chat showed that Hegseth posted information including the launch times of F-18 aircraft, MQ-9 drones and Tomahawk missiles, as well as the time when the F-18 aircraft would reach their targets, and the time when the bombs would land. Hegseth commented on the chat, writing that there were: "No names. No targets. No locations. No units. No routes. No sources. No methods. And no classified information". The incident led to criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. After the Signal leak, media outlet Der Spiegel searched the Internet using a commercial information provider and password leaks, which revealed Hegseth's personal mobile number, personal email address and its password, and WhatsApp account.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Hegseth had brought his wife to two meetings with foreign defense officials in which sensitive information was discussed, one meeting in February, at Brussels, with NATO officials, and the other in March, at the Pentagon, with British Defense Secretary John Healey.

In April, the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General announced an inquiry into Hegseth's disclosure of classified information in the Signal chat. That month, The New York Times reported that Hegseth had shared details on the attack in a second Signal chat with his wife, brother, and personal lawyer. At the White House Easter Egg Roll, Hegseth suggested that the revelations were a coordinated smear campaign. John Ullyot, the former spokesman for the Department of Defense, wrote in a Politico Magazine opinion piece hours later that the department was in a "full-blown meltdown" and warned that Hegseth was at risk of losing his position.

According to NPR, the White House began looking for a secretary of defense to replace Hegseth the following day. Nonetheless, he retained support from Trump, who privately did not seek to relitigate a grueling Senate confirmation, enjoyed Hegseth's presence and appearance on television, and believed that firing him would lead to questions over Waltz's retention, while he publicly associated the controversy to "disgruntled employees" and boasted of Hegseth's work. Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, stated that "the entire Pentagon is working against" Hegseth. Representative Don Bacon became the first Republican House member to urge that Hegseth be fired.

According to The Washington Post, Hegseth had Signal installed on his computer to circumvent cellular communication issues and to communicate with other Trump officials easier. CNN later reported that Ricky Buria, a former aide to secretary of defense Lloyd Austin, had set up Signal on Hegseth's computer. According to the Associated Press, the computer was on an unsecured internet line that was not using one of the Department of Defense's IP addresses.

At least five political appointees within the Department of Defense resigned by April 24. The firings and resignations led to a crisis within the Department of Defense that was described as a "free-for-all" by one employee who spoke to Politico. Hegseth received criticism from Senate Democrats over alleged civilian deaths in the Yemen strikes. In the same month, Sean Parnell, Justin Fulcher, Patrick Weaver, and Ricky Buria were announced as new senior advisers.

In September 2025, Hegseth gathered the Department of Defense's senior military leaders to Quantico, Virginia, for an address calling for tighter fitness standards and opposition to "woke garbage". The event featured Trump.

Changes to press policies

Main article: 2025 Pentagon press pass forfeiture

In October 2025, Hegseth implemented a new Pentagon press policy requiring journalists to pledge not to solicit or use unauthorized material, including unclassified information, or risk losing access to the building. The policy, which critics argued posed a threat to press freedom and First Amendment protections, was widely rejected by the media. Nearly all major US news organizations, including ABC, CNN, Fox News, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, refused to sign the agreement, citing concerns over press restrictions and government transparency. The only outlet to comply with the policy was One America News Network.

Caribbean boat strikes

Main article: 2025 United States military strikes on alleged drug traffickers

On November 28, 2025, The Washington Post published an article alleging Hegseth had given a spoken order to kill the survivors of a September 2, 2025, strike led by SEAL Team 6 on a boat suspected of carrying drugs in the Caribbean Sea. The operation was overseen by Admiral Frank M. "Mitch" Bradley, from Fort Bragg in North Carolina. Bradley described the survivors as legitimate targets, as they could theoretically have contacted other traffickers to rescue them and their cargo, and subsequently ordered the second strike to complete Hegseth's order that everyone must be killed. Hegseth's explanation for the strike has shifted over time. The Office of Legal Counsel eventually argued that the strike was legal because its goal was to destroy the boat, not to kill the crew, reflecting a secret legal memo endorsing such strikes; the memo has been "fiercely criticized" by legal experts. The strike was the first in a series of strikes against suspected drug traffickers. Hegseth's alleged orders were characterized by several legal experts as murder and a war crime.

The alleged orders were condemned by members of congress, including Representative Seth Moulton, who said "Mark my words: It may take some time, but Americans will be prosecuted for this, either as a war crime or outright murder." Both Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Kelly described the alleged orders as a war crime. Representative Mike Turner stated that "Obviously if that occurred, that would be very serious, and I agree that that would be an illegal act." On November 28, 2025, Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee wrote in a statement that the committee had directed inquiries about the orders to the defense department, and "we will be conducting vigorous oversight to determine the facts related to these circumstances." Hegseth subsequently defended his actions, writing on X that "As usual, the fake news is delivering more fabricated, inflammatory, and derogatory reporting to discredit our incredible warriors fighting to protect the homeland."

In December 2025, Hegseth proposed merging the Northern and Southern Commands into an "Americas" Command, and the European, Central, and Africa Commands into an International Command.

Political positions

Main article: Political positions of Pete Hegseth

Domestic issues

Hegseth holds strongly conservative views and has been regarded as a Christian nationalist by critics. In his book American Crusade (2020), Hegseth characterized "Americanism" as being opposition to movements such as feminism, globalism, Marxism, and progressivism, equated democracy to a leftist demand, and expressed support for election-rigging through gerrymandering to "screw Democrats". He has repeated false claims of electoral fraud in the 2020 presidential election and spread conspiracy theories about Antifa involvement in the January 6 attack.

Hegseth initially supported Florida senator Marco Rubio in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries, later favored Texas senator Ted Cruz, and ultimately endorsed Donald Trump. He defended Trump's policies in his first term, including his interactions with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, the 2020–2021 US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, and the assassination of Qasem Soleimani.}}

In a March 2012 interview with National Review, Hegseth advocated for premium support in Medicare, opposed contraception mandates, and described the Keystone Pipeline as a choice between jobs and environmental impact, asserting he would "always side with jobs." In March 2025, he canceled climate change studies and decried the phenomenon as "crap" on social media. That month, he sought to eliminate climate planning from the Department of Defense but included an exception for extreme weather preparation.

Foreign policy

In November 2009, Hegseth supported sending additional forces into Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan. He advocated for withdrawing from Afghanistan in his interview with the National Review, but argued that special operators should remain in the country and that the Afghan Army should be supported to avert a conflict.

Hegseth has criticized NATO and the United Nations. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he called Putin a war criminal, but he later told Fox News host Harris Faulkner that the invasion was less significant than "wokeness" and crime. He has criticized United States military aid to Ukraine.

Hegseth has supported the premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu. After Netanyahu was expected to be criminally charged in March 2019 for alleged bribery and fraud, he posted a video of Hegseth describing him as a "great friend to the United States". He has argued that the Chinese government is "building a military to defeat the United States" and repeated claims by Trump that "tens of thousands of Chinese nationals" have been sent to the Mexico–United States border. In May 2020, Hegseth said the "communist Chinese" want to "end our civilization".

Military affairs

In a Yale Political Union speech in October 2008, Hegseth disagreed with "Don't ask, don't tell", the United States's position on homosexuality in the military at the time, but noted that "Radical Islam is a far greater threat." In a podcast interview with Shawn Ryan in November 2024, Hegseth stated that women should not serve in combat roles.

Hegseth opposed Operation Iron Triangle, a raid in August 2006 that resulted in the death of three Iraqi men, which he described as "atrocities" to an audience at the University of Virginia. He has criticized the US military for accusing soldiers of committing war crimes.

Personal life

Marriages

In 2004, Hegseth married Meredith Schwarz, a graduate of Forest Lake Area High School, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Minnesota; they were voted "most likely to marry" by their graduating class. Meredith filed for divorce in December 2008 after Hegseth admitted to five affairs; he had been dating Samantha Deering, whom he had met at Vets For Freedom. Hegseth married Deering, with whom he has three children, in 2010; they filed for divorce in 2017. In 2019, Hegseth married Jennifer Rauchet, a producer on Fox & Friends, at Trump National Golf Club Colts Neck in New Jersey, in an event attended by the Trump family.

Abuse and sexual assault allegations

In November 2024, Vanity Fair reported that Hegseth had allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa on Del Monte Golf Course in Monterey, California, in October 2017, when he was scheduled to speak at the California Federation of Republican Women convention. According to the Monterey Police Department, Hegseth was investigated in connection with two incidents of sexual assault that occurred shortly before midnight and 7 a.m. the following morning. He was not criminally charged. The Washington Post reported that Hegseth had paid the accuser as part of a non-disclosure agreement after she threatened litigative action in 2020. In addition, the paper obtained a memorandum provided to Donald Trump's presidential transition team by an associate of the accuser, a 30-year-old conservative group staffer, that alleged that Hegseth raped her. Hegseth's lawyer, Timothy Parlatore, later confirmed the reports, but said that the staffer was attempting to extort Hegseth, a purported "victim of blackmail and innocent collateral damage", The Associated Press reported in January 2025 that Hegseth had paid her .

Records released by the Monterey Police Department later that month provided additional details on the incident. The accuser told police that she had confronted Hegseth, who informed her that he was a "nice guy", after he had acted "inappropriately" with women at the event. She recalled being in an undisclosed room with Hegseth, who allegedly took her phone and blocked the door, where he then allegedly raped her. The accuser said that "things got fuzzy" and told a nurse days later that she had believed she had been drugged. Hegseth told police that he had sought to ensure she was comfortable. Video surveillance footage showed Hegseth and the accuser walking, with her smiling. Two women who were interviewed by police stated that Hegseth had put his hand on their thighs and asked them to go to his hotel room, with one woman saying that she had asked the accuser to get him off her. The rape kit exam served as the impetus for the Monterey Police Department's investigation. Hegseth told police that he did have sex with the woman but that it was consensual. Monterey County district attorney Jeannine M. Pacioni declined to file charges in January 2018, saying that proof beyond a reasonable doubt was not established.

In November 2024, The New York Times obtained an email from Hegseth's mother, Penny, from April 2018, accusing her son of having mistreated women for years. After the Timess reporting, Penny told the paper that she had "immediately apologized in a separate email" and that her words were written "in anger, with emotion". In January 2025, NBC News reported that Samantha's sister Danielle had sent an affidavit to senators alleging that he had made his wife concerned for her safety, with Samantha said to have once hid in a closet and to have formed an escape plan that was once used. Hegseth's lawyer Parlatore dismissed the allegations.

Religion

In In the Arena (2016), Hegseth described his Christian faith as initially "more out of diligent habit than deep conviction". Following the September 11 attacks, he developed a hatred for Islamic terrorism, and "he found himself repelled by the [Princeton University] campus chapel's 'gospel of moral relativism,' and disparaged his fellow students for focusing on peace and 'mutual understanding' rather than 'condemnations of Islamic terrorism. Hegseth is a supporter of CREC co-founder Douglas Wilson. In August 2025, he favorably shared a video from CNN featuring Wilson, with Hegseth commenting on a video that included a pastor from Wilson's church calling for the repeal of women's right to vote, another pastor stating that husbands should cast votes for their entire household, and Wilson stating that women should not hold leadership positions in the military.

Hegseth supports the idea of holy war and has repeatedly praised the Crusades, claiming that people who enjoy the "benefits" of Western culture should "thank a crusader".

Tattoos

Hegseth has several tattoos, including one across his right biceps reading Deus vult ("God wills" in Latin), a Christian phrase associated with divine providence and God's will, as well as a tattoo of the Jerusalem cross on his right breast; the combination of Deus Vult and the cross has been associated with right-wing extremist groups. Hegseth also has a tattoo near the Deus vult tattoo reading kafir () in Arabic, garnering criticism from some Muslims, who accused him of Islamophobia. In addition, he has a tattoo of the 1754 political cartoon Join, or Die, a cross and sword with Hebrew lettering reading Yeshua (ישוע), and the words "We the People" on his right forearm, as well as the coat of arms of the 187th Infantry Regiment on his back, including its motto Ne Desit Virtus or "Let Valor Not Fail". He also has a tattoo of the Chi Rho Christogram, which was the standard of the Christian Roman Empire and has been interpreted as an anti-pagan symbol. In 2024, Hegseth said that concerns over his Jerusalem cross tattoo caused the District of Columbia National Guard to pull him from a mission to guard the inauguration of President Joe Biden and helped spur him to retire from the military. According to the fact-checking website Snopes, at least two of Hegseth's tattoos depict symbols associated with Christian nationalism, though Hegseth may not adhere to Christian nationalist views himself.

Sports

Hegseth played for his high school's football team and was a point guard on the basketball team, earning school records in career and single-season three-point shots and single-season three-point shooting percentage. Hegseth was twice named all-conference and earned all-state honors as a senior.

Awards and decorations

Hegseth's awards and decorations include:

In addition, Hegseth was awarded the Expert Infantryman Badge, making him a de facto recipient of the Master Combat Infantryman Badge.

Written works

Hegseth published his memoir, In the Arena: Good Citizens, a Great Republic, and How One Speech Can Reinvigorate America, in 2016. He co-authored Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation with David Goodwin, the president of the Association of Classical Christian Schools, in 2022. In June 2024, Hegseth published The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free. American Crusade, Modern Warriors, Battle for the American Mind, and The War on Warriors have reached The New York Times Best Seller list. He wrote the foreword to The Case Against the Establishment (2017), a book written by Nick Adams and Dave Erickson.

The above list of works by publication year:

• In the Arena: Good Citizens, a Great Republic, and How One Speech Can Reinvigorate America, 2016
• The Case Against the Establishment, 2017
• American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free, 2020
• Modern Warriors: Real Stories from Real Heroes, 2020
• Battle for the American Mind: Uprooting a Century of Miseducation, 2022
• The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, 2024

Notes

References

Works cited

Books

References

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24. Steinhauer, Jennifer. (January 6, 2020). "Fox Host's 'America First' Shift Makes an Exception for Trump's Iran Strike". [[The New York Times]].
25. (November 15, 2024). "Trump Pentagon pick had been flagged by fellow service member as possible 'Insider Threat'". [[Associated Press]].
26. (December 4, 2024). "Pete Hegseth's Troubles at Work Raise Questions About Leadership". [[The New York Times]].
27. (December 4, 2024). "GOP insiders sought Hegseth's removal as leader of veterans' group in 2016". [[CBS News]].
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30. Falcone, Michael. (July 23, 2008). "Iraq Veteran Takes On McCain In New Ad". [[The New York Times]].
31. Mitchell, C.C.. (April 11, 2012). "Biden to visit Minneapolis for Klobuchar fundraiser". [[The Minnesota Star Tribune]].
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33. Stassen-Berger, Rachel. (May 24, 2012). "Republican Hegseth is out of US Senate race. For good.". [[The Minnesota Star Tribune]].
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35. Talev, Margaret. (January 6, 2015). "Group Seeks to Remind Obama of VA Scandal Ahead of Phoenix Trip". [[Bloomberg News]].
36. Fisher, Marc. (November 13, 2024). "Pete Hegseth's Path from Campus Provocateur to Fox to the Pentagon".
37. Anderson, Zac. (November 12, 2024). "Trump taps conservative media pundit Pete Hegseth as Defense Secretary". [[USA Today]].
38. Philipps, Dave. (December 12, 2016). "Veterans Groups Urge Trump to Keep Obama's V.A. Secretary". [[The New York Times]].
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45. Steinberg, Brian. (April 2, 2018). "Jason Chaffetz, Katie Pavlich, Brian Kilmeade and Pete Hegseth to Sub for Laura Ingraham on Fox News". [[Variety (magazine).
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50. Philipps, Dave. (November 15, 2019). "Trump Clears Three Service Members in War Crimes Cases". [[The New York Times]].
51. Arkin, Daniel. (June 14, 2018). "'Fox & Friends' co-host faces lawsuit from man he hit with ax". [[NBC News]].
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57. Kershner, Isabel. (January 6, 2025). "West Bank Settlers Hope Trump Will Back Annexation Dreams". [[The New York Times]].
58. Ryan, Missy. (November 12, 2024). "Trump taps Fox News host and Army vet Pete Hegseth as defense secretary". [[The Washington Post]].
59. (November 12, 2024). "Trump Names Fox News Host Pete Hegseth to Head Pentagon, John Ratcliffe for CIA". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
60. Al-Rikabi, Ramsey. (November 12, 2024). "Trump to Nominate Fox News Host Hegseth as Defense Secretary". [[Bloomberg News]].
61. Ward, Alexander. (November 12, 2024). "Loyalty Is Common Thread as Trump Fills Foreign Policy, Immigration Jobs". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
62. Zhou, Li. (November 14, 2024). "Trump is staffing up his White House with loyalists". [[Vox (website).
63. (November 16, 2024). "Under the Chandelier at Mar-a-Lago, Trump Makes Picks at Breakneck Speed". [[The New York Times]].
64. (November 12, 2024). "'Who the f--k is this guy?': Defense world reacts to Trump's surprise Pentagon pick". [[Politico]].
65. Detsch, Jack. (November 13, 2024). "Pentagon officials alarmed over Hegseth's lack of experience: 'Would you trust him to run Walmart'?". [[Politico]].
66. Sherman, Gabriel. (November 14, 2024). "Trump's Defense Secretary Pick Pete Hegseth Said to Face Previous Sexual Misconduct Allegation". [[Vanity Fair (magazine).
67. (November 15, 2024). "Trump team weighs Pentagon pick after sexual assault allegation surfaces". [[The Washington Post]].
68. Haberman, Maggie. (November 17, 2024). "Trump Stands by Defense Pick Who Says Encounter With Woman Was Not Sexual Assault". [[The New York Times]].
69. Bender, Michael. (November 21, 2024). "Republicans Rally Behind Pete Hegseth Amid Sexual Assault Accusations". [[The New York Times]].
70. (December 4, 2024). "As Hegseth Vows to Fight, Trump Considers DeSantis for Defense Secretary". [[The New York Times]].
71. (December 12, 2024). "Power, Intimidation and the Resurrection of Trump's Support for Hegseth". [[The New York Times]].
72. (January 28, 2025). "How Trump's orbit used blunt force to squeeze Hegseth through". [[Politico]].
73. Demirjian, Karoun. (December 5, 2024). "Defiant Hegseth Fights to Keep Pentagon Bid Alive, as Votes Remain Uncertain". [[The New York Times]].
74. (December 6, 2024). "Trump defends Hegseth as his path to confirmation remains uncertain". [[The Washington Post]].
75. (December 9, 2024). "Key Republican senator reports 'good discussions' with Pete Hegseth". [[The Washington Post]].
76. (January 14, 2025). "Republicans Embrace Hegseth as Democrats Question His Fitness to Lead Pentagon". [[The New York Times]].
77. Kelly, Kate. (January 14, 2025). "Hegseth Spars with Senator Over What He Meant by Slang Term". [[The New York Times]].
78. Demirjian, Karoun. (January 14, 2025). "Hegseth Won't Say Whether Sexual Assault, Drinking or Adultery Is Disqualifying". [[The New York Times]].
79. Hauslohner, Abigail. (January 20, 2025). "Rubio confirmed as Hegseth, Ratcliffe pass key thresholds". [[The Washington Post]].
80. (January 21, 2025). "Senators receive affidavit containing new allegations against Pete Hegseth, who denies the claims". [[NBC News]].
81. (December 4, 2024). "Trump's embattled defense pick Hegseth vows to fight on, says he won't drink if confirmed".
82. (January 25, 2025). "Pete Hegseth confirmed as defense secretary after Vance breaks tie". [[The Washington Post]].
83. Bade, Rachael. (February 8, 2025). "JD Vance Aced His First Test. The Next One Will Be Tougher.". [[Politico Magazine]].
84. (February 3, 2025). "The 24-Hour Blitz That Flipped One Senator's Vote From No to Yes on Hegseth". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
85. (January 24, 2025). "Hegseth Is Second Cabinet Secretary in History to Advance on Tiebreaker Vote". [[The New York Times]].
86. Pecorin, Allison. (January 25, 2025). "Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote". [[ABC News (United States).
87. Schmitt, Eric. (January 25, 2025). "Pete Hegseth, New Defense Secretary, Outlines Pentagon's Priorities". [[The New York Times]].
88. Schmitt, Eric. (January 26, 2025). "Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Sunday, in what is believed to be his first call with a world leader since being sworn in on Saturday.". [[The New York Times]].
89. (January 28, 2025). "Hegseth readies actions against Trump foe Mark Milley". [[The Washington Post]].
90. Lamothe, Dan. (February 7, 2025). "Trump DEI crackdown targets books in Pentagon schools". [[The Washington Post]].
91. (January 25, 2025). "Defense Secretary Vows to Use Thousands of Active-Duty Troops to Secure Border". [[The New York Times]].
92. Ismay, John. (February 11, 2025). "Hegseth Renames Fort Liberty to Fort Bragg". [[The New York Times]].
93. (February 12, 2025). "Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine and says Europe must be responsible for country's security". [[CNN]].
94. Lamothe, Dan. (February 13, 2025). "Hegseth team invites far-right activist Jack Posobiec on overseas trip". [[The Washington Post]].
95. (February 13, 2025). "Hegseth softens stance on Ukraine's NATO goal as Trump doubles down". [[The Washington Post]].
96. (February 19, 2025). "Hegseth Calls for 8 Percent Annual Defense Cut". [[The New York Times]].
97. (February 21, 2025). "Trump ousts Joint Chiefs chairman, other leaders in major Pentagon shake-up". [[The Washington Post]].
98. Ismay, John. (February 21, 2025). "Hegseth Fires Navy's Top Officer". [[The New York Times]].
99. Jaffe, Greg. (February 22, 2025). "In Pursuit of a 'Warrior Ethos,' Hegseth Targets Military's Top Lawyers". [[The New York Times]].
100. (February 23, 2025). "Hegseth responds to blowback over Friday night Pentagon purge". [[The Hill (magazine).
101. (March 2, 2025). "Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Stop Offensive Cyberoperations Against Russia". [[The New York Times]].
102. (March 11, 2025). "Defense Department 'does not do climate change crap,' Hegseth says". [[USA Today]].
103. (March 14, 2025). "Pentagon tasked with providing 'military options' to ensure US access to Panama Canal, memo says". [[CNN]].
104. Pomerleau, Mark. (May 1, 2025). "Hegseth orders sweeping changes to Army structure". DefenseScoop.
105. Cooper, Helene. (May 5, 2025). "Hegseth Orders 20 Percent Cut in Four-Star Officers". [[The New York Times]].
106. Obis, Anastasia. (April 9, 2025). "Pentagon kicks off major effort to reshape its civilian workforce". Federal News Network.
107. Goldberg, Jeffrey. (2025). "The Trump Administration Accidentally Texted Me Its War Plans".
108. (March 24, 2025). "Officials Included Journalist in Group Chat on Yemen Attack Plans in Extraordinary Breach". [[The New York Times]].
109. (March 25, 2025). "Hegseth faces renewed scrutiny after Signal chat disclosures". [[The Washington Post]].
110. Beitsch, Rebecca. (March 25, 2025). "Gabbard, Ratcliffe contend Signal chat did not include classified information". [[The Hill (newspaper).
111. (April 24, 2025). "Polygraph Threats, Leaks and Infighting: The Chaos Inside Hegseth's Pentagon". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
112. Debusmann, Bernd. (March 26, 2025). "Three sensitive messages from Yemen strike Signal chat unpacked and explained".
113. (March 26, 2025). "Hegseth says leaked Signal group text didn't have 'war plans'. But screenshots show attack details". [[Politifact]].
114. (March 27, 2025). "'Obviously classified': Experts say Hegseth chat leaks invited danger". [[Defense News]].
115. Fields, Ashleigh. (March 26, 2025). "Fox's Jennifer Griffin: Info Hegseth sent 'classified' and meant only for secure channels". [[The Hill (newspaper).
116. (March 26, 2025). "Hegseth Comes Under Scrutiny for Texting Strike Details as Fallout Grows". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
117. (March 27, 2025). "Private Data and Passwords of Senior U.S. Security Officials Found Online". [[Der Spiegel]].
118. (March 28, 2025). "Hegseth Brought His Wife to Sensitive Meetings With Foreign Military Officials". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
119. (March 29, 2025). "Secret Pentagon memo on China, homeland has Heritage fingerprints". [[The Washington Post]].
120. (April 3, 2025). "Inspector general will scrutinize Hegseth's disclosures in Signal chat". [[The Washington Post]].
121. (April 20, 2025). "Hegseth Said to Have Shared Attack Details in Second Signal Chat". [[The New York Times]].
122. Lamothe, Dan. (April 20, 2025). "Hegseth team gets new jolt with more allegations involving Signal app". [[The Washington Post]].
123. McLeary, Paul. (April 20, 2025). "Former Pentagon official warns department's dysfunction could topple Hegseth". [[Politico]].
124. Bowman, Tom. (April 21, 2025). "The White House is looking to replace Pete Hegseth as defense secretary". [[NPR]].
125. Lamothe, Dan. (April 21, 2025). "Pete Hegseth, isolated and defiant, has Trump's backing for now". [[The Washington Post]].
126. (April 21, 2025). "Trump Stands by Hegseth After Phone Call About Newly Revealed Signal Chat". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
127. Weaver, Al. (April 23, 2025). "Senate Republican: Hegseth is 'going to need some help around him'". [[The Hill (newspaper).
128. (April 21, 2025). "'White House backs Hegseth, Leavitt says 'entire Pentagon' is resisting him". [[Politico]].
129. Bade, Rachael. (April 21, 2025). "'An amateur person': GOP Rep. Bacon says Hegseth should go". [[Politico]].
130. Lamothe, Dan. (April 24, 2025). "Hegseth had Signal messaging app installed on an office computer". [[The Washington Post]].
131. (April 24, 2025). "'He gets him what he needs' Hegseth's new favorite adviser helped set up Signal on one of secretary's computers at Pentagon". [[CNN]].
132. Copp, Tara. (April 24, 2025). "Hegseth had an unsecured internet line set up in his office to connect to Signal, AP sources say". [[Associated Press]].
133. (April 24, 2025). "Controversial Hegseth chief of staff to leave Pentagon". [[Politico]].
134. (April 24, 2025). "Pentagon leadership vacuum overwhelms Hegseth's office: 'It's a free-for-all'". [[Politico]].
135. (April 24, 2025). "Senators challenge Hegseth on civilian deaths in Yemen strikes". [[The Washington Post]].
136. (April 25, 2025). "New senior staff announced as White House looks to 'right the ship' at the Pentagon". [[NPR]].
137. (September 30, 2025). "Trump and Hegseth Recount Familiar Partisan Complaints to Top Military Leaders". [[The New York Times]].
138. Mitchel, Ellen. (October 14, 2025). "Hegseth changes Pentagon press policy: 5 takeaways". The Hill.
139. (October 14, 2025). "Major media outlets, including Hegseth's former employer Fox News, decline to sign new Pentagon reporting rules".
140. (November 28, 2025). "Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all". The Washington Post.
141. (December 4, 2025). "The shifting responses of Hegseth, Trump and others on the lethal boat strikes". The Washington Post.
142. (December 6, 2025). "How the White House account of September boat strike has evolved".
143. Hall, Richard. (December 3, 2025). "How Pete Hegseth’s Account of a Deadly Strike in the Caribbean Keeps Changing". [[Time (magazine)]].
144. (December 3, 2025). "Trump officials say second strike aimed to destroy drug boat instead of crew". The Guardian.
145. Woodward, Alex. (November 29, 2025). "Pete Hegseth's order to 'kill everybody' included alleged drug boat survivors: report". The Independent.
146. Mazza, Ed. (November 29, 2025). "'Textbook War Crime': Critics Slam Hegseth For 'Outright Murder' After Shock Report".
147. Gold, Michael. (November 30, 2025). "Lawmakers Suggest Follow-Up Boat Strike Could Be a War Crime".
148. Bailey, Phillip M.. "Pete Hegseth lashes out at 'kill them all' report on boat strikes". [[USA Today]].
149. (November 29, 2025). "Senate committee vows 'vigorous oversight' in killing of boat strike survivors". The Washington Post.
150. (November 28, 2025). "Hegseth defends strikes after WaPo 'kill everybody' story: 'Fake news'". [[The Hill (newspaper).
151. Turse, Nick. (January 11, 2026). "Failed U.S. Military Effort in Africa is on the Chopping Block".
152. Lamothe, Dan. (December 15, 2025). "Pentagon plan calls for major power shifts within U.S. military". The Washington Post.
153. Herman, Alice. (November 15, 2024). "Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, sparks alarm over far-right extremism". [[The Guardian]].
154. Kilgore, Ed. (December 6, 2024). "Pete Hegseth's Christian Nationalism Is Fair Game for Confirmation Hearings". [[New York (magazine).
155. Adams, Liam. (January 13, 2025). "Why Pete Hegseth nomination is a milestone for the rightwing Christian movement he follows". [[USA Today]].
156. Wilson, Jason. (October 2025). "Trump Pentagon nominee endorsed extremist Christian doctrine on podcast". [[The Guardian]].
157. Kaczynski, Andrew. (December 17, 2024). "KFile: Pete Hegseth spread baseless conspiracy theories that January 6 attack was carried out by leftist groups". [[CNN]].
158. (March 26, 2025). "In their own words: Trump officials shrugging off Signal leak once decried Clinton's server". Associated Press.
159. (March 25, 2025). "Officials in Leaked Chat Had Criticized Clinton's Use of Private Email Server". The New York Times.
160. (March 25, 2025). "But her e-mails? Here is how Trump's team reacted to a Hillary Clinton security breach". [[USA Today]].
161. (March 25, 2025). "Hillary Clinton reacts to military plans leak: 'You have got to be kidding me'". The Guardian.
162. (December 4, 2024). "Hegseth has a history of supporting controversial policies involving the military". [[CNN]].
163. (March 10, 2025). "US military cancels climate change studies that Pentagon chief calls 'crap'". [[Reuters]].
164. Waldman, Scott. (March 21, 2025). "Hegseth Orders Elimination of Climate Defense Planning but Still Wants Extreme Weather Preparation". [[Scientific American]].
165. DiMascio, Jen. (November 5, 2009). "Veterans groups boost lobbying". [[Politico]].
166. (November 13, 2024). "Who is Pete Hegseth, the pro-Israel Fox News host picked to head Pentagon?". [[Al Jazeera]].
167. Wilson, Jason. (November 25, 2024). "Trump Pentagon pick attacks UN and Nato and urges US to ignore Geneva conventions". [[The Guardian]].
168. Iqbal, Nomia. (January 14, 2025). "Hegseth makes no mention of Russia-Ukraine war". [[BBC News]].
169. (November 13, 2024). "From women in combat to Trump's border wall, here are the policies Pete Hegseth has spoken out on". [[Politico]].
170. Superville, Darlene. (January 7, 2020). "Trump retreats from threat to attack Iranian cultural sites". Public Broadcasting Service.
171. Tarnopolsky, Noga. (March 3, 2019). "Israel's Netanyahu reacts to likely corruption charges with fire and fury". [[Los Angeles Times]].
172. (November 15, 2024). "Biden scrambles to emergency-proof US-China ties before Trump takes office". [[Politico]].
173. Baragona, Justin. (May 22, 2020). "Tucker Carlson and Pete Hegseth Try to Bring 'Kung Flu' Back". [[The Daily Beast]].
174. Shim, Eileen. (October 7, 2008). "At YPU, a call for ROTC's return". [[Yale Daily News]].
175. Martinez, Xavier. (January 14, 2025). "What Pete Hegseth Has Said About Women in the Military and in Combat Roles". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
176. Sherman, Gabriel. (December 3, 2024). "The Storybook Start—and Bitter End—of Pete Hegseth's First Marriage". [[Vanity Fair (magazine).
177. Gafni, Matthias. (November 14, 2024). "Trump's defense secretary pick, Pete Hegseth, was named in Monterey sex assault probe". [[San Francisco Chronicle]].
178. (November 16, 2024). "Defense pick Hegseth paid accuser but denies sexual assault, attorney says". [[The Washington Post]].
179. Haberman, Maggie. (November 16, 2024). "Trump's Pick for Pentagon Paid an Accuser but Denies It Was Sexual Assault". [[The New York Times]].
180. Copp, Tara. (January 23, 2025). "Hegseth told senator he paid $50,000 to woman who accused him of 2017 sex assault". [[Associated Press]].
181. (November 21, 2024). "Police records reveal new details about sexual assault allegation against Pete Hegseth". [[The Washington Post]].
182. (November 21, 2024). "Trump Team Blindsided by Details of Sexual-Assault Allegation Against Hegseth". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
183. (November 21, 2024). "Police report reveals new details from sexual assault allegation against Trump's defense secretary nominee". [[CNN]].
184. Chappell, Bill. (November 21, 2024). "Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth". [[NPR]].
185. (November 29, 2024). "Text of the Email That Pete Hegseth's Mother Sent Him". [[The New York Times]].
186. Helmore, Edward. (November 30, 2024). "Trump defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth's mother called him 'an abuser of women'". The Guardian.
187. Forsyth, Jennifer. (December 4, 2024). "Pete Hegseth's Mother Defends Her Son's Character on Fox Show". [[The New York Times]].
188. (December 5, 2024). "Pete Hegseth and His 'Battle Cry' for a New Christian Crusade". [[The New York Times]].
189. Toropin, Konstantin. (August 8, 2025). "Hegseth reposts video on social media featuring pastors saying women shouldn't be allowed to vote". [[Associated Press]].
190. Wilson, Jason. (22 November 2024c). "Trump's Pentagon pick Hegseth wrote of US military taking sides in 'civil war'". The Guardian.
191. Youssef, Nancy. (January 14, 2025). "What Do Hegseth's Arm Tattoos Mean?". [[The Wall Street Journal]].
192. Swann, Sara. (November 25, 2024). "Did Pete Hegseth's tattoos bar him from National Guard service in 2021?". [[Poynter Institute]].
193. Dunbar, Marina. (March 27, 2025). "Pete Hegseth's Arabic tattoo stirs controversy: 'clear symbol of Islamophobia'". [[The Guardian]].
194. Mendick, Robert. (November 14, 2024). "Mapping Pete Hegseth's tattoos: the Christian ink that got him kicked off Biden's National Guard team". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
195. Wilson, Lydia. (November 29, 2024). "Pete Hegseth's Tattoos and the Crusading Obsession of the Far Right".
196. (November 16, 2024). "Pentagon pick left Guard after being reported as possible 'insider threat' due to tattoo". [[The Washington Post]].
197. Izzo, Jack. (November 18, 2024). "Contrary to Rumor, Pete Hegseth Does Not Have Nazi Tattoos". [[Snopes]].
198. Horton, Alex. (December 5, 2024). "Bronze Stars, like those Hegseth earned, are common among military officers". [[The Washington Post]].
199. Fields, Ashleigh. (November 13, 2024). "5 things to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon nominee". [[The Hill (magazine).
200. Butler, Kiera. (November 15, 2024). "Trump's Defense Secretary Pick Hopes for a Christian Crusade". [[Mother Jones (magazine).
201. Cooper, Helene. (November 13, 2024). "What to Know About Pete Hegseth, Trump's Pick for Defense Secretary". [[The New York Times]].