Pete Hegseth's war department backdrop draws Nazi imagery comparisons

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's recent address at the United States Air Force Academy has drawn attention on social media, with users likening the event's backdrop, featuring a redesigned Department of War (DOW) logo, to Third Reich iconography.

The logo, a simplified version of the Department of Defense's (DOD) traditional seal, has faced comparisons to Nazi Germany's eagle symbol, particularly the horizontal positioning of the bird's wings. This contrasts with other agency seals where the eagle's wings are depicted in a V-shape.

Officials from the Department of Defense have pushed back against the Nazi comparisons. "The American bald eagle is an icon of our country and used on many state and federal seals, including the seal of the Department of War," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Joel Valdez stated.

Valdez added critically that if an image of a bald eagle leads to delusions about Nazi Germany, an individual might need a medical check. The redesigned logo has also been noted to deviate from the department's own brand guide, omitting elements of the official DOD seal such as the encircling band and a wreath below the eagle.