Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, fired back at a hit piece in the Associated Press that attacked him for a religious tattoo he has.

The report said that Hegseth, an Army National Guard veteran, was flagged as a possible “Insider Threat” by a fellow service member because of the tattoo, which they claimed was linked to white supremacy.

Retired Master Sgt. DeRicko Gaither told the AP that he received an email from a former National Guard member that included a photo of Hegseth’s tattoos.

The report said:

Gaither told AP he researched the tattoos — including one of a Jerusalem Cross and the context of the words “Deus Vult,” Latin for “God wills it,” on his bicep — and determined they had sufficient connection to extremist groups to elevate the email to his commanding officers.

The person who saw the photos of Hegseth and decided to post them on social media is a left-wing troll named Travis Akers.

“It was just quite concerning to see that on a service member’s body, but even more concerning now that a person who chose to bear those symbols is being nominated to lead the most powerful, nuclear military in the world,” he claimed to the AP.

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“They’re attacking Pete Hegseth for having a Christian motto tattooed on his arm,” said Vice President-elect JD Vance on X.

“This is disgusting anti-Christian bigotry from the AP, and the entire organization should be ashamed of itself,” he continued.

Hegseth responded to Vance’s post by writing on X: “Amen @JDVance. Anti-Christian bigotry in the media on full display.”

“They can target me — I don’t give a damn — but this type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE at DJT’s DoD,” he continued.

Amen @JDVance. Anti-Christian bigotry in the media on full display.

They can target me — I don’t give a damn — but this type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots and everyday Americans will stop on DAY ONE at DJT’s DoD. https://t.co/TCZVWsxEAS

— Pete Hegseth (@PeteHegseth) November 15, 2024