Sgt. DeRicko Gaither made the complaint about the tattoo in 2021.
The National Guardsman who in 2021 pegged Pete Hegseth as a potential « insider threat » clarified in an interview with ABC News that his complaint targeted a « Deus Vult » tattoo on the former Fox News host’s arm — not a cross on his chest, as Hegseth has repeatedly claimed.
President-elect Donald Trump last week tapped Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense. He listed Hegseth’s experience as a veteran and his media experience as his reasons for the choice.
As Reuters and The Associated Press first reported, Sgt. DeRicko Gaither sent an image of the « Deus Vult » tattoo to Maj. Gen. William Walker shortly before President Joe Biden’s inauguration. The phrase, which translates from Latin to « God wills it », has been co-opted by white nationalist groups, experts have said.
« This information is quite disturbing, sir », Gaither wrote in the email to Walker, who has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
