The term means “nonbeliever” or “infidel,” and Muslim leaders assert that it is often used by anti-Muslim bigots to mock and provoke. Photos of Hegseth’s tattoo were shared online on Wednesday.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil rights organization in the United States, stated on Thursday that Hegseth’s tattoo symbolizes both “anti-Muslim hostility and personal insecurity.”

“It appears Islam lives so rent-free in Pete Hegseth’s head that he feels the need to stamp himself with tattoos declaring his opposition to Islam alongside a tattoo declaring his affinity for the failed Crusaders, who committed genocidal acts of violence against Jews, Muslims and even fellow Christians centuries ago,” CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said.

“This isn’t just a personal choice; it’s a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man overseeing US wars,” a Palestinian-American activist and founder of Within Our Lifetime, a pro-Palestinian group based in New York, Nerdeen Kiswani wrote.

Some social media users criticized Hegseth for getting a tattoo that might be seen as offensive to Muslims, particularly as the US military aims to represent a diverse array of faiths. It is estimated that between 5,000 and 6,000 members of the US military practice Islam.

The Pentagon and the White House did not respond immediately to requests for comments on Thursday.

Hegseth has faced criticism for his tattoos in the past, including being removed from his National Guard unit’s assignment to guard President Joe Biden’s inauguration in 2021 after a fellow service member reported Hegseth’s “Deus Vult” tattoo to superiors following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack by Trump supporters.

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