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Medieval Tattoos and Troubled Past Complicate Hegseth's Defense Secretary Nomination
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Medieval-era tattoos and controversial incidents put the future of the US Secretary of Defense position in doubt

The wave of criticism and questions continues regarding President Donald Trump's choice of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the Defense Secretary position.
Hegseth's lawyer began acknowledging payments made to a woman who accused him of sexual assault at a hotel in Monterey, California, as part of a deal to cover up their meeting, despite confirming the encounter was consensual, according to the Washington Post.
Attorney Timothy Parlatore stated that his client "was clearly intoxicated" when the incident occurred years ago. Parlatore added that his client responded to the payment request fearing her accusations would lead to his "immediate dismissal from Fox" where he worked as a program host.
The statement coincided with a detailed memo from an anonymous woman reaching Trump's campaign team this week, accusing the 44-year-old Defense Secretary nominee of raping a woman in her thirties in his room after drinking at the hotel bar.
The thrice-married former soldier was investigated in a sexual assault case in 2017, but no formal charges were filed after the anonymous woman filed a police complaint.
Hegseth's confirmation faces additional obstacles related to his limited experience and tattoos associated with extremist groups, especially since he needs Senate approval to take charge of the Pentagon and oversee 3.4 million employees.
These tattoos previously led to his exclusion from the National Guard unit participating in President Joe Biden's inauguration in 2020.
Hegseth revealed during a podcast episode with Sean Ryan early this month that one of his military colleagues reported him for suspected white nationalism due to his tattoos, highlighting that it concerned a "Jerusalem Cross" tattoo from medieval times.
His body also bears the phrase "Deus Vult" (God wills it) used by Crusaders in the Middle Ages. Despite white supremacists and neo-Nazis recently adopting medieval European symbols and slogans, Hegseth emphasized that his tattoos only reflect his faith.
The author of "American Crusade" (2020) affirmed that "the Jerusalem Cross is nothing more than a Christian symbol." Social media users recently shared a video showing him carrying medieval weapons, and he appeared in television footage participating in an axe-throwing competition, where he missed the target and hit a passerby who miraculously survived.
The former forty-something host holds degrees from prestigious universities, including Princeton and a master's from Harvard, and previously hosted "Fox & Friends Weekend" on Fox News.
Levant-Agencies
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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