Trump's Pentagon nominee flagged as potential insider threat over extremist tattoo

Pete Hegseth, nominated by Donald Trump to lead the Department of Defense, was flagged as a potential "Insider Threat" due to a tattoo linked to white supremacist groups. This concern was raised by a fellow service member in January 2021. Hegseth has previously downplayed the role of military members in the January 6 Capitol attack and criticized efforts to address extremism in the military. He claims he was unfairly labeled an extremist and prevented from serving during Biden's inauguration. The scrutiny of Hegseth's nomination highlights ongoing concerns about extremism within the military. An investigation found over 480 individuals with military backgrounds accused of extremist crimes from 2017 to 2023, including many linked to the January 6 insurrection.