Activists and advocacy groups have sharply criticized US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth after recent social media photos revealed an Arabic tattoo reading “kafir,” meaning “infidel” or “non-believer,” calling it a provocative symbol associated with anti-Muslim sentiment.
Photos posted by Hegseth on social media platform X earlier this week clearly show the controversial tattoo. “Kafir” is an Arabic term traditionally used within Islamic theology to describe individuals who reject or deny Islamic beliefs. However, critics argue that the term has increasingly been co-opted by far-right, anti-Muslim groups to mock and antagonize Muslim communities.
Nerdeen Kiswani, a pro-Palestinian activist based in New York, criticized the tattoo as more than a personal expression. “This isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing US wars,” Kiswani stated, further emphasizing that such symbolism could have dangerous implications for US foreign policy and military operations in Muslim-majority regions.
Nihad Awad, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), also condemned the tattoo as “a display of both anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity.” Awad added that the term’s visible use by the defense secretary raises concerns about potential bias in critical military decisions affecting Muslim populations domestically and abroad.
This controversy is not the first involving Hegseth’s tattoos. Previously, he faced criticism for tattoos referencing Crusader imagery, notably “Deus Vult”—Latin for “God Wills It,” a historic battle cry used during the Christian Crusades against Muslim territories. These tattoos, coupled with the recent revelation, have intensified concerns among advocacy groups about Islamophobic undertones within the Department of Defense’s leadership.
Calls for accountability and investigation into Hegseth’s recent actions and symbolism have grown louder, particularly as Congress continues probing the recent Signal leak involving operational details of US military actions in Yemen. Several congressional members have already called for Hegseth’s resignation amid the unfolding controversy.