What does ‘Deus Vult’ mean? Pete Hegseth tattoo controversy explored in wake of nomination as Trump's Defense Secretary
Fox News political commentator and Army combat veteran Pete Hegseth was named Secretary of Defense by Donald Trump on Tuesday, November 12.
“Pete is tough, smart, and a true believer in ‘America First.’ With Pete at the helm, America’s enemies are on notice — Our Military will be Great Again, and America will Never Back Down,” the President-elect said in a video statement.
In the wake of Pete’s nomination as the Defense Secretary, social media users have reopened the discussion surrounding his tattoo. Hegseth has a large Jerusalem Cross inked on his chest alongside the words ‘Deus Vult,’ which in Latin means “God wills it.”
In 2021, Pete Hegseth was part of the Minnesota National Guard and was called to Washington, D.C., to offer security to Joe Biden for his presidential inauguration. However, his orders were revoked reportedly due to his tattoo, which was allegedly deemed as a symbol of White/ Christian nationalism.
Exploring further the meaning of ‘Deus Vult’ amid Pete Hegseth’s appointment
The phrase ‘Deus Vult’ or ‘God wills it’ originated in the late 11th century during the First Crusade. It was used as a rallying cry by the Catholics and often symbolized God’s will through human action and righteousness. According to Templar Blog, Pope Urban II appealed to Europeans to embark on a journey to liberate their holy land, Jerusalem, from the Islamic community.
During this crusade, the Latin expression ‘Deus Vult’ was often used as a battle cry, ultimately leading to the historic Siege of Jerusalem. At the time, the term was governed by the belief that all human actions and decisions were guided by the Almighty and symbolized Divine Providence.
In modern times, ‘Deus Vult’ has been incorporated into pop culture and has gone beyond its original meaning and significance. It is now often used by far-right groups, White supremacists, and Christian nationalists as a slogan.
During his July 2020 interview with The Big Lead, Pete Hegseth shared how he has been a tattoo enthusiast since his young days. He got his first ink a few years back during a family vacation. He admitted that he has continued getting tattoos ever since, starting with a cross on his forearm with a sword in the middle, representing Matthew 10:34.
The Princeton University alumnus mentioned that he had a dozen inks across his arms and that his central motifs were "God and country."
"I've got Deus Vult -- God Wills It -- which was the cry of the Crusaders, on my bicep... My entire pec is a Jerusalem cross. Israel, Christianity, and my faith are things I care deeply about," he added.
All you need to know about Pete Hegseth’s tattoo drama
Ahead of his nomination as the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth appeared on the November 8 episode of The Shawn Ryan Show. He spoke about his ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo, saying how he was deemed “an extremist” by his National Guard unit in Washington, D.C., in 2021.
“My orders were revoked to guard the Biden inauguration. Jerusalem Cross tattoo, which is just a Christian symbol. This is the one, this right here is what got be disinvited. I never had orders revoked before,” he shared.
“Listen, it’s a standard deal. You remember after January 6th everyone was in Washington D.C., like Nancy Pelosi had the parking garages full of National Guardsmen. My commander called me tepidly a day before and said, ‘Major, you can just stand down. We don’t need you. We’re good.’”
Pete Hegseth explained how his commander could not justify/clarify the decision, but he knew what it was. Hegseth added that before writing about the incident in his latest book, The War on Warriors: Behind the Betrayal of the Men Who Keep Us Free, he reached out to one of the men in his unit who confirmed with “99.9 percent certainty” what he suspected.
The former executive director of Vets for Freedom claimed that person was part of meetings and emails and had told him that “someone inside the D.C. Guard trolled your social media, found a tattoo, used it as an excuse to call you a White nationalist, an extremist.”
Pete Hegseth shared that he was “specifically by name orders revoked to guard the inauguration” because he was reportedly “considered a potential threat.” During the interview, the Fox & Friends Weekend co-host also denied having sympathies for White/Christian nationalist groups.
Donald Trump has nominated Pete Hegseth as the Defense Secretary and lauded him for his military service, adding that he would be the champion of his administration’s “Peace through Strength” policy.
A longtime supporter of the President-elect, 44-year-old Hegseth, was seemingly considered for the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs during Trump’s first term. However, the role eventually went to David Shulkin. Pete was reportedly considered to replace him when he was fired in 2018 due to misconduct allegations.