Pete Hegseth was flagged as potential ‘insider threat’ by Guardsman who was ‘disturbed’ by ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo

He joined the National Guard in 2021 Pete Hegseth A potential “insider threat” clarified in an interview with ABC News that his complaint was targeted A “Deus Vult” tattoo On the former Fox News host’s arm, not a cross on his chest, as Hegseth has repeatedly claimed.

President-elect Donald Trump last week Hegseth tapped to head the Department of Defense. He listed Hegseth’s experience as a veteran and experience in the media as reasons for the selection.

Ass Reuters and The Associated Press first reported Sgt. DeRicko Gaither sent an image of the “Deus Vult” tattoo to Major General William Walker before President Joe Biden took office. The phrase, which translates from Latin as “God willing,” has been co-opted by white nationalist groups, experts have said.

“This information is quite disturbing, sir,” Gaither wrote in the email to Walker, who did not respond to ABC News’ request for comment. “This is in line with an insider threat.”

Hegseth said in his book “The Warriors” that his “orders were revoked” before Biden’s inauguration because service members had branded a Jerusalem Cross tattoo on his chest as a white nationalist symbol. As a result, Hegseth wrote, the military resigned.

But Gaither clarified in a text message to ABC News that her complaint was about the “Deus Vult” tattoo, even though “the story that has been outside”.

“We see. This has nothing to do with the Jerusalem Cross tattoo on his chest.” Gaither wrote in the text. “This has something to do with the ‘DEUS VULT’ tattoo on his inner bicep.”

Gaither’s sensitivity to what he described as the “satisfying” images on Hegseth’s tattoos came at a time when the military was struggling. dozens of active and ex service members participated in the January 6 riots at the US Capitol.

Gaither, who confirmed the contents of his complaint to ABC News — which he wrote a week after Jan. 6, emphasized. “This was not then and is not now a personal attack on Pete Hegseth.”

“The information received and the email sent (on January 14) was the assignment of the position that was assigned to me and the protocol had to be followed.” explained Gaither, who was named the Guard’s security chief at the time. “Protocol was followed and would be followed again if this issue involved another service member, including myself.”

As reported by ABC News, Hegseth fired Calling it “anti-Christian bigotry” in The Associated Press’s initial coverage of this issue.

“You can call me – I don’t give a damn – but this kind of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE of DJT’s DoD,” Hegseth wrote in X.