A misspelling on the sign of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s name had the Internet buzzing Tuesday as people debated whether it was more than just a typo.

During a White House Cabinet meeting, On Tuesday, reporters noticed Hegseth’s job title was written on a sign as “Secretary of War,” in line with President Donald Trump. Department of Defense name change, but not in line with the English language.

Although in theory it could have simply been a spelling mistake, critics on social media said the “SS” in Hegseth’s title might not have been an accident, as it shares the initials of the Nazi Schutzstaffel: The paramilitary group also known as the “SS.”

You can see the misspelled sign in the bottom right corner of this photo with Donald Trump.

President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on December 2, 2025.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on December 2, 2025.

Yuri Gripas/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images

And here’s a closeup.

Pete Hegseth's sign in the White House refers to him as the
Pete Hegseth’s sign in the White House refers to him as the “Secretary of War.”

AP

The typo probably couldn’t have come at a worse time for Hegseth, who is facing scrutiny for an attack at sea that may constitute a war crime, and who has drawn attention in the past for his tattoo of the Jerusalem Cross, which some consider a symbol of right-wing extremism.

News themezone reached out to the White House to clarify whether the “SS” on Hegseth’s sign was intentional or just a careless spelling mistake, but no one immediately responded.

However, many people on social media did and, boy, did they have any idea.

The man who commits war crimes has a card with the name “Secretary of War” It would make me turn off any political drama for being too over the top.

– Arsenal of dememecracy 🇺🇲 🇺🇦 🗽 (@gaymergir) December 2, 2025

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That the man who commits war crimes has a card with his name “Secretary of War” on it would make me turn off any political drama as being too over the top.

– Arsenal of dememecracy 🇺🇲 🇺🇦 🗽 (@gaymergir) December 2, 2025