Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ignited controversy after revealing a previously unnoticed tattoo on his right forearm that reads "كافر" (kafir) in Arabic—a word that translates to "infidel" or "nonbeliever."
Hegseth's tattoo was visible for the first time on Wednesday during a visit to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii. The official X, formerly Twitter, account of the Secretary of Defense shared photos of him interacting with soldiers, prompting several social media users to point out the tattoo—leading to accusations of Islamophobia.
Newsweek reached out to the Pentagon for comment on Thursday.
The Context
Hegseth identifies as a Christian and has often expressed his faith publicly. His religious beliefs are central to both his personal and professional identity, as demonstrated by his collection of tattoos, which he describes as extensions of his faith, patriotism and worldview.
His ink includes several religious symbols: "Deus Vult" ("God wills it") on his bicep—a slogan from the First Crusade—a cross and sword referencing the Bible verse Matthew 10:34, which he interprets as "not peace, but a sword," and a Jerusalem cross, a Crusader-era emblem he says led to his removal from National Guard duties during President Biden's 2021 inauguration.
What to Know
Pete Hegseth's new "kafir" tattoo sits just below another inked phrase across his bicep. In Arabic, the term historically refers to someone who does not believe in Islam.
Derived from the root K‑F‑R, meaning "to cover" or "to conceal," the term implies that a kafir recognizes the truth of Islam but chooses to reject or hide it. As author and Cato Institute fellow Mustafa Akyol explains in a 2019 article: "Kafirs are seen as the sworn enemies of Islam and Muslims."
The tattoo—believed to have been inked in early 2024—has drawn criticism from advocacy groups and Muslim American civil rights organizations, who argue that a high-ranking official displaying the word "kafir" in this context signals a hostile stance toward Islam.
"Tattooing the Arabic word kafir—which refers to someone who knowingly denies or conceals fundamental divine truths—on his body is a display of both anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity," Nihad Awad, national executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation's largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, told Newsweek in a statement.
"This isn't just a personal choice; it's a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing U.S. wars," wrote Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani on X. "'Kafir' has been weaponized by far-right ideologues, and now it's on the arm of someone with access to the Pentagon."
Online Culture War
Over the past two decades, the term kafir has been adopted by a wide range of groups and individuals, each assigning it different connotations. Supporters of ISIS, al-Qaeda, and other extremist organizations have used kafir and its variant kuffar to describe both Muslim and non-Muslim adversaries in online forums, propaganda materials and social media posts.
"Extremist recruiters and propagandists have also sweepingly referred to Muslims and non-Muslims as kafir," according to the glossary of the Counter Extremism Project (CEP), a New York–based nonprofit that monitors extremist ideologies.
Meanwhile, among some U.S. soldiers and veterans who served during the War on Terror—particularly those deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq in the early 2000s—the term took on a different meaning, evolving into a symbol of defiance or personal identity, according to military forums reviewed by Newsweek.
Moroccan media personality Rachid Hammami, better known as Brother Rachid, also explained that the term is commonly used by veterans of Middle Eastern wars.
"This word is widely recognized among military veterans—especially those who served in the Middle East—as a symbol of defiance against Islamic terrorists. It's often seen on stickers, truck decals, T-shirts, and mugs," Hammami posted on X.
One of the more prominent figures known to have the tattoo is Joe Biggs, an Afghanistan veteran and member of the Proud Boys, who was recently pardoned by President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.
What People Are Saying
Nihad Awad, national executive director of the CAIR, in a statement to Newsweek: "Secretary Hegseth can tattoo himself whatever he wants, but he should keep in mind that he leads the U.S. armed forces, which includes thousands of American Muslims, and that he is sworn to defend the American people, who include millions of American Muslims."
Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, talking about his tattoos during his confirmation hearing in February: "Things like focusing on extremism have created a climate inside our ranks that feels political when it hasn't ever been political. Those are the types of things that are going to change."
Ben Elley, a researcher at Independent Research Solutions, said to New Lines Magazine: "There are a whole lot of things with a whole load of meanings they can point to as innocent. But that collection of symbols all together builds to a picture that's very common in far-right communities."
What Happens Next
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is under heightened scrutiny following revelations that he shared sensitive military operation details in a Signal group chat that inadvertently included a journalist. The incident has sparked bipartisan calls for accountability, with some lawmakers demanding Hegseth's resignation.