Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalist Rhetoric Shapes U.S. Defense Narrative Amid Iran Conflict

On 17 April 2026, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth briefed reporters on the ongoing Iran war. He began by noting that the previous Sunday he had been “sitting in church with my family” while the minister preached from Mark 3. Hegseth then likened the U.S. press to the Pharisees who “gathered around simply so that in this moment they can find something prosecutable against Jesus,” calling the “legacy Trump-hating press” politically motivated and blind to “the brilliance of our American warriors.”

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Hegseth belongs to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a denomination described by its co-founder Douglas Wilson as “Christian nationalist.” CREC’s 12 April 2026 sermon at Christ Kirk DC—titled “The Fellowship of Grievance”—advocated a “biblically informed hatred” and urged worshippers to unite over shared hatred of perceived evil. The congregation meets in a Pennsylvania Avenue building owned by the Conservative Partnership Institute, a Trump-aligned nonprofit that acquires property to influence Republican staffers and target government employees.

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• 5 March 2026 – Hegseth tells Central and South American leaders they are “western nations … Christian nations under God.”

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• 12 April 2026 – Dr. Benjamin Merkle delivers the “Fellowship of Grievance” sermon at Christ Kirk DC.

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• 17 April 2026 – Hegseth’s Iran-war briefing references the sermon and attacks the press.

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• 19 March 2026 – Hegseth asks the American public to pray for troops “on bended knee” and “in the name of Jesus Christ.”

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• 25 March 2026 – Hegseth reads Psalm 18, praying that God will “break the teeth” of U.S. enemies.

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• 16 April 2026 – Hegseth offers a paraphrased Ezekiel passage filtered through *Pulp Fiction*.

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• 17 February 2026 – Wilson presides over a Pentagon worship service, stating “God can do what he likes.”

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• May 2025–January 2026 – Monthly Pentagon worship series initiated by Hegseth, with pastor Brooks Potteiger serving as on-site clergy.

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Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell affirmed that Hegseth is “a proud member of a church affiliated with the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches” and that the Secretary “very much appreciates many of Mr Wilson’s writings and teachings.” Hegseth’s press secretary Riley Podleski responded to inquiries about his attendance at the 12 April service with “We have nothing further to provide.” Hegseth’s public remarks during the period—including the 5 March description of “Christian nations,” the 19 March prayer request, the 25 March Psalm reading, and the 16 April Ezekiel excerpt—were presented as expressions of personal faith rather than official policy.

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Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, warned that Hegseth’s alignment with “some of the most extreme Christian nationalists” raises concerns about anti-LGBTQ+ beliefs, extremist views on women, and the use of biblical rhetoric against journalists. Julie Ingersoll, professor of religious studies at the University of North Florida, noted that the CREC motto “All of Christ for All of Life” signals a worldview that seeks to apply biblical law to every sector of public life, including the military. The Guardian’s analysis concluded that “our national security should not be based on fanatical holy war fantasies,” echoing broader apprehension about the fusion of religious doctrine with defense strategy.

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• “Our press is just like these Pharisees,” — Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense

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• “Yes, that would be a fair description.” — Douglas Wilson, co-founder of the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches

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• “It’s also not true that those who love God are only united by our loves. We’re also united by the things that we hate. We share a hatred of evil. There are things that God hates, and it’s right for us to share that hatred.” — Dr. Benjamin Merkle, president of New Saint Andrews College

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• “ Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said: “Hegseth has aligned himself with some of the most extreme Christian nationalists in the country.” — Heidi Beirich, co-founder, Global Project Against Hate and Extremism

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• “She told the Guardian: “The CREC motto ‘All of Christ for All of Life’ refers to their view that there is no area of life that is not governed by God’s law.” — Julie Ingersoll, professor of religious studies, University of North Florida

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• “Our national security should not be based on fanatical holy war fantasies, but that is what Hegseth, and by extension Trump, have wrought.” — Unnamed source (Guardian commentary)

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The attendance of Hegseth at the 12 April Christ Kirk DC sermon remains unverified. Benjamin Merkle declined to confirm or deny Hegseth’s presence, stating “Sorry, I don’t want to be weird. But I don’t think I will do that.” The Pentagon likewise “neither confirmed nor denied” his attendance, and the Secretary’s office offered no additional details. Additionally, Merkle asserted he had not watched Hegseth’s press conference, leaving the precise link between the sermon and the briefing ambiguous.

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The documented overlap between senior defense officials, a Christian nationalist denomination, and a Trump-aligned nonprofit illustrates a pathway by which religious doctrine can influence strategic communication and policy framing. Critics argue that such entanglement threatens the constitutional separation of church and state and may shape national security narratives on the basis of theological concepts rather than secular strategic assessments. The ongoing debate underscores the need for transparency regarding personal faith affiliations of officials who shape U.S. defense posture, especially amid active conflicts such as the Iran war.

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