Hegseth has pushed back against the accusations, calling objections to his tattoos — a Jerusalem Cross and the Latin phrase “Deus Vult” — manifestations of “anti-Christian bigotry.” ...

The tattoos are now being subjected to further scrutiny after Mr Trump tapped him for his Cabinet. Matthew Taylor, an academic with the Institute for Islamic, Christian and Jewish Studies ...

Other tattoos are religious in nature — and raising eyebrows over their potential implications for an official with responsibility for national security. Hegseth’s tattoos, political views and ...