WHITE LIGHTNING AI RESEARCH DIV.//IMMEDREL//11/13/24/0645PST
#PeteHegseth Extremist 11/13/24/0645PST: anti-women combat roles, "The feeling was mutual - I didn't want this Army anymore either," anti-woke, and the tattoo, the case against Pentagon Pete for SecDef:
(Begin Perplexity-AI)
Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host and Army combat veteran, has been nominated by Donald Trump to serve as Secretary of Defense. This nomination has brought attention to an incident involving Hegseth's alleged removal from President Biden's 2021 inauguration security detail due to concerns about extremism.According to Hegseth's own account, he was scheduled to help secure Biden's 2021 inauguration as part of his National Guard unit, but was ordered to stand down after being labeled an "extremist"
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. He claims this designation was due to a tattoo he has, which he describes as a "Jerusalem Cross," a Christian symbol1
.Hegseth explained that his commander called to inform him of the decision without providing a clear reason. He later learned from a unit insider that someone in the D.C. Guard had flagged his social media activity and tattoo, branding him a white nationalist and extremist, which led to his exclusion1
.The Jerusalem Cross tattoo that Hegseth has is described as featuring a large central cross representing Christ's crucifixion, surrounded by four smaller crosses. While historically associated with the Kingdom of Jerusalem, established after the First Crusade in 1099, some modern right-wing nationalist groups have adopted Crusader imagery1
.It's worth noting that in January 2021, twelve National Guard members were dismissed from Biden's inauguration security due to ties with "right-wing militia groups" or extremist online posts1
. Jim LaPorta, a journalist, confirmed that Hegseth was among these individuals1
.Hegseth has addressed this incident in his book and in media appearances. He stated, "Ultimately, members of my unit in leadership deemed that I was an extremist or a white nationalist because of a tattoo I have, which is a religious tattoo"2
. He also mentioned that he left the Army in 2021, saying, "The feeling was mutual - I didn't want this Army anymore either"4
.This incident has become a significant part of Hegseth's narrative and has likely influenced his views on military culture and leadership. His nomination as Secretary of Defense, if confirmed, could potentially lead to changes in how the military addresses issues related to extremism and diversity within its ranks.How did Pete Hegseth respond to being labeled an extremist
According to the search results, Pete Hegseth has addressed the incident of being labeled an "extremist" and removed from President Biden's 2021 inauguration security detail in several ways:
- In his book "The War on Warriors", Hegseth wrote about the experience, stating: "Ultimately, members of my unit in leadership deemed that I was an extremist or a white nationalist because of a tattoo I have, which is a religious tattoo"14.
- Hegseth claims he was scheduled to help secure Biden's 2021 inauguration as part of his National Guard unit, but was ordered to stand down after being labeled an "extremist"1.
- He explained that his commander called to inform him of the decision without providing a clear reason. Hegseth later learned from a unit insider that someone in the D.C. Guard had flagged his social media activity and tattoo, branding him a white nationalist and extremist1.
- The tattoo in question is described by Hegseth as a "Jerusalem Cross," which he says is a Christian symbol13.
- Hegseth has stated that he left the Army in 2021, saying, "The feeling was mutual - I didn't want this Army anymore either"12.
- He has used this incident to criticize what he sees as "woke" policies in the military and has advocated for removing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the armed forces46.
- Hegseth has framed this experience as part of a larger narrative about the persecution of "true patriots" by what he views as a corrupt political establishment5.
(End Perplexity-AI) pete hegseth extremist allegation
WHITE LIGHTNING AI RESEARCH DIV.//IMMEDREL//11/13/24/0645PST