Hegseth has said this tattoo, which has been associated with extremist groups, prevented him from serving as a member of the National Guard at President Joe Biden's inauguration.

But did this happen at the Pete Hegseth hearings in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee this week? If you thought those kinds of questions would dominate the hearings, you must be living under the illusion that we live in a serious country.

Lt. Col. Jim Mattis fought in the Gulf War — he later retired as a four-star general and was Trump’s first defense secretary. And Trump’s final acting Pentagon chief, Chris Miller, served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as an Army special forces officer. He later retired as a colonel.

Critics of Trump's defense secretary nominee say the symbol has been adopted by extremist groups, including white supremacists.

Senators, especially Democratic members, grilled Hegseth over his record, his tattoos, and his views on women in the military.

Confirmation hearings for President-elect Trump's cabinet nominees begin this week. Among the first will be Pete Hegseth, the former Army National Guard officer and FOX News host nominated for secretary of defense.

CNN's political commentators Scott Jennings and Karen Finney join CNN's Dana Bash to give their takeaways of Pete Hegseth's Senate confirmation hearing. DANA BASH: Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's pick to run the Department of Defense,

Defense secretary nominee will publicly face senators for the first time after weeks of privately pushing back on criticism

Pete Hegseth, President-elect Donald Trump's pick for defense secretary, is facing tough questions today during his confirmation hearing with the Senate Armed Services Committee.

FOX Business host Larry Kudlow gives his take on Pete Hegseth's confirmation hearing for secretary of defense on 'Kudlow.'

The Democrats’ refusal to question Hegseth over his fascist politics underscores that their priority is not the defense of democratic rights against a military-backed Trump dictatorship but the continuation of the war against Russia in Ukraine and the preparation of new wars against Iran in the Middle East and against China.

Hegseth says he will be a “change agent” and a “warrior” as Republicans demand new and strong leadership at the Pentagon.