"This is not just a personal choice; it's a clear symbol of Islamophobia from the man who oversees America's wars." She elaborated that the term is frequently used by the far right to disparage Muslims.

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.

British journalist Dilly Hussain, meanwhile, wrote, “Muslims should not be offended or shocked at Pete Hegseth’s new ‘kafir’ tattoo or his crusader ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo. He’s merely displaying America’s foreign policy and mindset to Islam and Muslims.”