Pentagon’s Christian Messaging Intensifies as Hegseth Frames Conflict with Iran in Religious Terms
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Since taking over as Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth has incorporated his brand of conservative evangelical Christianity into various aspects of the Pentagon. He has organized monthly Christian worship services for staff, and promotional materials from the department have featured Bible verses paired with military imagery. In speeches and interviews, Hegseth frequently states that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and encourages service members to draw on their faith, a stance critics say could challenge the military’s long-standing commitment to religious neutrality and diversity.
His religious messaging has gained additional attention as the United States and Israel are engaged in war with Iran, which is governed as an Islamic theocracy, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
During a recent Pentagon press briefing, Hegseth said Iran’s leadership was under pressure. “The mullahs are desperate and scrambling,” he said, referring to the country’s Shiite clerical rulers. He then quoted Psalm 144, a passage shared in both Jewish and Christian traditions: “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war and my fingers for battle.”
Hegseth has previously defended the medieval Crusades, the conflicts between Christian and Muslim forces in the Middle Ages. Two of his tattoos also reference Crusader symbolism: the Jerusalem cross and the Latin phrase “Deus vult,” meaning “God wills it,” which he has described as the rallying cry of Christian knights who marched toward Jerusalem.
Matthew D. Taylor, a visiting scholar at Georgetown University who studies religious extremism, said such language could heighten tensions with Iran. According to Taylor, rhetoric framed in religious terms “can only inflame and reinforce the fears and deep animosity that the regime in Iran has toward the United States.”
When asked whether Hegseth sees the conflict with Iran through a religious lens, a Defense Department spokesperson pointed to a recent interview he gave to CBS. In that interview, Hegseth described Iran’s leadership as “religious fanatics” pursuing nuclear capabilities tied to apocalyptic beliefs. He also noted his own faith, saying he encourages American troops to rely on their beliefs and trust in God.
Under Hegseth’s leadership, several policy shifts have also reflected his conservative views. These include a ban on transgender troops, limits on diversity initiatives, and a review of policies concerning women serving in combat roles.
Youssef Chouhoud, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University, said the concern extends beyond rhetoric to the policies themselves. He argued that the adoption of Christian nationalist ideas in government decisions raises broader questions about the role of religion in military leadership.
Rabbi Laurence Bazer, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former chaplain, warned that emphasizing one religious tradition in official messaging could leave some service members feeling excluded. In a statement, he said the U.S. military represents people from many different faith backgrounds, and that diversity has long been considered one of its strengths
About Post Author
