Sources say Donald Trump’s transition team leadership met on Thursday with the former Fox News host, who is a left-field pick to head the Department of Defense, about the claims at a Thursday meeting.

Hegseth has laid down markers on his agenda for running the Pentagon: firing generals who promote “woke” military policies, eliminating combat roles for women and loosening reins on troops conduct in combat.

Hegseth has two tattoos of Crusades-era symbols that are associated with far-right extremism and Christian nationalism.