The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on the Senate to reject the nomination of Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense due to his calls for the destruction of Al-Aqsa Masjid, support for war crimes, and over his past smears targeting Muslims and Islam.
“Some of Hegseth’s writing also appears to echo the virulent rhetoric of white nationalists and Great Replacement theorists, taking particular aim at Islam…
“In his 2020 book ‘American Crusade,’ Hegseth fulminates against Muslim birth rates and what he characterizes as the infiltration of American communities by refugees and migrants whom he accuses of leeching off government support. He writes that Islam ‘is not a religion of peace, and it never has been’ and claims that ‘all modern Muslim countries are either formal or de facto no-go zones for practicing Christians and Jews.’…
“Looking toward Europe, Hegseth points in ‘American Crusade’ to elected Muslim officials in the United Kingdom and the rise in the European Muslim population over the past three decades to argue that the United States will end up with a similar future absent an intervention.
“Though insulated by distance and its ‘traditional Christian fabric,’ the United States, Hegseth writes, is under a cultural invasion ‘not just at our shore, it’s in your community and schools.’ In November 2019, his book states, 26 Muslim candidates won elected office in the country, and ‘Muhammad is now a top ten boys’ name in America.’
“’Our present moment is much like the 11th Century. We don’t want to fight, but, like our fellow Christians one thousand years ago, we must,’ he writes. ‘Arm yourself — metaphorically, intellectually, physically. Our fight is not with guns. Yet.’”
In a statement, CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell said:
“Mr. Hegseth’s war-mongering, defense of those accused of war crimes, call for the destruction of Al Aqsa mosque, and his virulently anti-Muslim views should disqualify him from any role in our nation’s government. If President-elect Trump is serious about pursuing peace abroad and putting American interests above the interests of foreign governments, he should withdraw Mr. Hegseth’s nomination, and failing that, his nomination should be rejected by the Senate.”
He noted that Hegseth has a tattoo stating “”Deus Vult,” Latin for “God wills it.” That phrase was the battle cry of the First Crusade.
In the coming weeks and the next session of Congress, CAIR plans to call on members of the U.S. Senate to scrutinize and reject extremist cabinet nominees based on each individual’s public record and positions that reveal a history of intolerance, extremism, or allegiance to foreign interests over American priorities.
CAIR has welcomed the Trump administration’s decision not to appoint former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to roles in the new administration and urged President-elect Trump to appoint foreign policy officials who will respect international law and prioritize American interests over those of any foreign nation, including Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, rmccaw@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com