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 associated with white supremacist groups. This concern was raised by a fellow service member in January 2021. Hegseth has criticized the military's response to extremism and downplayed the involvement of military members in the January 6 Capitol attack. He has also supported military personnel accused of war crimes and questioned the Pentagon's efforts to address extremism. Concerns about Hegseth's tattoos were shared with military leadership shortly before President Biden's inauguration, amid heightened security due to the Capitol riot. The Army had increased vetting for National Guard members deployed to the event.