He's also shown support for members of the military accused of war crimes and criticized the military's justice system.

How Hegseth became an "anti-woke" advocate is still coming into view. But it is becoming increasingly clear that he came to a crossroads in January 2021.

Pete Hegseth was barred from protecting President Biden’s inauguration in 2021 after enlisted soldiers complained that Hegseth’s chest tattoo might signify that he was a white supremacist. The D.C. National Guard’s top legal affairs officer at the time tells The Washington Post it was an “overreaction” in the wake of the Jan.