Concerns are mounting over Trump’s pick to lead the Pentagon, Fox News host and military veteran Pete Hegseth. CBS News reports that Hegseth was one of 12 National Guard members who were removed as guards for President Biden’s 2021 inauguration over possible extremist ties. Hegseth has tattoos associated with the white supremacist and neo-Nazi movements, including what’s known as a Jerusalem cross, a symbol used by Christian nationalists. In related news, the government watchdog Accountable.US announced it’s launching a “Trump Accountability War Room” to monitor Trump’s appointments and executive actions as he takes up his second term.
  • The4th@lemmy.world
    0·
    1 month ago

    The Iron Cross goes all the way back to the state of Prussia. Long before the Nazi’s. There are probably so many reason to criticize this guy that will cause productive conversation that can be used to have a better informed voting class. Just screaming racist because of tattoo is just silly and makes no one take you seriously.

    • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
      0·
      1 month ago

      “The guy officially cited for his extremist views with the big gigantic Nazi tattoos who was just put into power by a self-described dictator deserves the benefit of a doubt”

      Absolutely not.

    • magamus@lemmy.world
      0·
      1 month ago

      I think it’s more the point of do you believe that this person who has the tattoos has them because of the possible history before the Nazis and what it represented or because the Nazis co-opted the symbol for their purposes and he’s representing their ideals.

      While it may be true that there are other reasons to also criticize, I believe those who think the latter would take it seriously. I have more trouble believing someone in this day and age has the tattoos to represent the historical aspect of the symbol.

      • The4th@lemmy.world
        0·
        1 month ago

        I believe screaming racist has been over used at this point and no listens. Especially since Trump carried so much of the minority vote. Yes this may resonate with the left. But just shut you out. Same when the Republicans scream communist. No one takes that seriously.
        All I have learned from this thread is this guy has an Iron Cross tattoo and some people view that as racist.

    • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      1 month ago

      I’m sorry what?!

      That level of disingenuous knot tying is utterly baffling.

      You know damn well that after WW2, all of those symbols ostensibly became inextricably linked with the Nazi party. Its the same reason a Swastika no longer automatically conjures images of Hindu and Buddhist peace.

      Pretending that its possible that this idiot is somehow repping his pride of Wilhelm II and the glorious Prussian history is so unbelievably intellectually dishonest that it actually somehow manages to be even worse than being flat out racist.

      At least Racists are honest. This…whatever this idiotic attempt at obsfucation was that you just shat into our lives is just pedantry that even racists would mock you for.

      • The4th@lemmy.world
        0·
        1 month ago

        Just keep calling everyone Nazi. See how much it helps. Backing people into a corner and forcing this label onto them is only going to make them adapt the label and become the very thing you hate.
        76 million people voted for Trump. Calling them names is not going to move the needle. Like what do you expect you call them Nazi and then they beg for forgiveness and then go read a Bernie Sanders book?

        • Hemingways_Shotgun@lemmy.caEnglish
          0·
          1 month ago

          I’m not calling everyone a Nazi.

          I’m saying the guy with tattoos on his chest of symbols that have been associated with Nazis since the late 1930s is 99.99999% likely to be a Nazi and not a long lost member of Prussian nobility.

          Pretending that because there’s a .0000001% chance that his tattoos aren’t Nazi inspired just because Prussia existed, is purposeful pedantry, which IMO is worse than outright racism.

          See, you’re not stupid. You’re the worst kind of person. Your not smart. But your not stupid. You have just enough trivia in your head that you can muddle any argument with pedantry just enough that stupid people might read it and think… “hmmm…maybe it WAS a Prussia tattoo.” even though you know damn well that a .0000001% chance is as good as 0%. It’s dishonest, it’s immoral, and it takes advantage of people who don’t have the critical thinking skills to call out your bullshit. You are worse than racists because at least racists are honest about it.