Executive Orders
President Donald Trump signed the following Executive Orders:
EO 14180 Council To Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency
EO 14182 Enforcing the Hyde Amendment
Congress
The Senate confirmed television personality and author Pete Hegseth to serve as Defense Secretary in a 51-50 vote on Friday, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, after which he worked for veterans organizations. He was a co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend from 2017-2024, and has written several books. As Secretary, Hegseth will oversee a multitude of Department of Defense agencies, including the Department of the Army, Department of the Navy, Department of the Air Force, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, National Reconnaissance Office, and others.
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String Board Notes
Hegseth has many tattoos with cryptic meanings, including one on his bicep with the words “deus vult” — a slogan used by some Christian nationalist and white supremacist groups, such as the far-right protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017 — and a Jerusalem cross on his chest, of which Hegseth denied any connection, stating, “It’s a historic Christian symbol.”
In a deep dive on Substack, Father Nathan Monk looks at the meaning behind these symbols, and concludes:
These are not symbols of his Protestant upbringing or linked to any history or heritage, past or present, but symbols of the Crusaders that are heavily being used by Christian Nationalists to promote violence and hatred. These symbols were born out of antisemitism and violence and have now been adopted by hate groups for this purpose again as they begin the process of a new crusade known as Project 2025 to purge our country of queer people, Muslims, immigrants, people of color, and push forward the subjugation of women.
Father Nathan Monk, via Substack
Further Reading
Sen. Cramer asks Hegseth about Jerusalem cross tattoo; PBS; January 14, 2025
Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalist Crusade Is a Threat to Religious Freedom; Interfaith Alliance; December 10, 2024.
No matter what Pete Hegseth says, his tattoos are anything but typical symbols of Christianity; Father Nathan Monk via Substack; November 17, 2024.
Peter Hegseth’s tattoos are raising some eyebrows; NPR; November 14, 2024.
Pete Hegseth on “Fox & Friends” defends white nationalists in Charlottesville; Salon; August 13, 2017.