Tattoos have become much more accepted and are now considered a rite of passage for many young adults. Many celebrities have made body art, such as face tattoos, fashionable, especially in creative fields. However, when it comes to politicians, many people still tend to believe that their bodies must be as clean as possible as if it would change anything.
Let’s see if there’s anyone’s ink you can recognize.
1. Caroline Kennedy
Caroline Bouvier Kennedy, who used to be the US Ambassador to Japan, has a charming butterfly tattoo on her arm. In case you’re wondering about her last name, yes, she is the only surviving child of President John F. Kennedy. She was barely six when her father was assassinated in 1963. Caroline graduated from Radcliffe College and started working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she met her husband. With a hubby by her side, she focused on law, politics, education reform, and charitable work. In the 2008 presidential election, she endorsed Barack Obama and actively supported his campaign, so in 2013, Caroline was appointed as the US Ambassador to Japan.
2. Justin Trudeau
Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wasn’t just your ordinary politician. Not only did he showcase his leadership skills, but he is also an environmentalist and advocate for women’s rights. He’s got that trustworthy, good-guy vibe that people tend to appreciate in a leader. But he’s been hiding something: a massive double tattoo on his bicep! Back in March 2012, he shared on Twitter that his tattoos feature planet Earth inside a Haida raven, where Haida refers to an Indigenous group in North America mostly found in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, and parts of Alaska. That is a cool concept with some personal lore behind it.
3. Sarah Palin
Sarah Palin joked about getting a Big Dipper tattoo around 2012, and it looks like she finally went for it. Though she usually covers it up, a few Instagram clips and a Newsmax video showed off tiny wrist tattoos: a flower and a constellation of some sort. Palin reportedly also has a permanent lipliner tattooed on. So, while she may look makeup-ready 24/7, part of that is just tattoo ink.
4. Lauren Boebert
Lauren Boebert surprised everyone when a random bikini pic revealed a giant tribal tattoo running down her right side. The photo got major heat with comments ranging from “That’s the worst tat I’ve ever seen” to “That’s cultural appropriation.” People found the design’s tribal elements offensive, especially given Boebert’s past advocacy for drilling on Indigenous lands. While it may look cool, most people consider the ink tone-deaf at best.
5. Nancy Mace
Nancy Mace dazzled at a 2023 Gridiron Club event with a backless dress and an unexpected side tattoo. A small inscription under her arm got people talking online, though it’s too blurry to read and usually hidden by her blazer-heavy wardrobe. No one knows what it says. Some joked it might be about Waffle House. Until she reveals the details herself, we’re left to speculate.
6. Pete Hegseth
Despite his conservative politics, Pete Hegseth’s tattoos are bold and proud. He’s shown off his ink online, especially during a July 4th video where his sleeve of patriotic art was on full display. His most controversial piece is a giant Jerusalem Cross on his chest. He also has “Deus vult” on his arm—a Crusader phrase linked by some to white supremacist groups. He says it’s all about his Christian faith. The rest of his tattoos exude US pride, featuring phrases such as “We the People,” 13 stars, a “Join, or Die” snake, and a reversed American flag adorned with an AR-15 underneath. It’s kinda disturbing, really.
