MAGA media personality Steve Bannon is publicly urging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to prioritise military substance over religious rhetoric during official Pentagon briefings on the ongoing conflict with Iran. Bannon, a former advisor to President Donald Trump, made his comments during an episode of his War Room podcast, where he expressed concern that Hegseth's frequent biblical references are overshadowing critical operational updates from senior military commanders.
Religious Tirade Overshadows Military Details
During what was intended to be a routine briefing on United States military operations against Iran, Defense Secretary Hegseth launched into a biblical critique of journalists covering the war. He specifically compared members of the press corps to Pharisees, a group of ancient religious scholars often depicted as adversaries of Jesus in the New Testament. "The legacy Trump-hating press, your politically motivated animus for President Trump nearly completely blinds you from the brilliance of our American warriors," Hegseth declared during the session.
Bannon praised General Dan Caine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of U.S. Central Command, for delivering what he called a "magnificent job" in explaining the strategic U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. However, he argued that these vital military details were being lost amid Hegseth's religious messaging.
Bannon's Direct Recommendation
"My observation or recommendation: I don't think I would start that with some references to the New Testament," Bannon stated in the podcast episode posted on Thursday. "That's all the mainstream media is covering right now, is Pete's opening remark about the Gospel according to Mark and the reference to the Pharisees, which is, I think, great," he continued. "It's just when are you going to do it? I would not do it because it...it steps on what's important."
Bannon later added more bluntly, "My two cents: We ought to tone that down and focus, when we got the Pentagon, let's have a military briefing." This direct advice highlights a growing tension within certain circles about the appropriate tone for official defence communications during a sensitive international conflict.
Hegseth's History of Christian Language
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a frequent critic of the American media, has consistently incorporated Christian terminology into his discussions about the war effort. Both Hegseth and former President Trump have previously referred to the Easter Sunday rescue of a downed airman in Iran as a miraculous event. During a prayer service last month, Hegseth prayed for troops to deliver "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy."
More recently, Hegseth faced mockery on social media platforms after appearing to quote a fictional Bible verse from the film Pulp Fiction during a Wednesday prayer service at the Pentagon. This incident further illustrates his tendency to blend religious imagery with his official defence role, a practice that Bannon now suggests should be moderated during formal military updates.
Broader Context of Religious Imagery in Politics
Hegseth's attempt to liken the Washington D.C. press corps to biblical antagonists coincides with a week where Donald Trump has shared numerous religious-themed images of himself on social media. On Sunday, Trump posted an AI-generated image on Truth Social that portrayed him as Jesus in flowing robes, healing a sick man with beams of light emanating from his hands. The image featured patriotic symbols including an American flag, the Statue of Liberty, and eagles.
This post was part of a Truth Social rant where Trump also lashed out at Pope Leo XIV after the Chicago-born pontiff offered critical remarks about the Iran conflict. Trump later deleted the image following intense criticism from religious groups and right-wing conservatives, claiming he believed it depicted him as a doctor rather than Jesus. However, days later, Trump reposted another AI-generated image showing him being embraced by Jesus, with the two figures posed before a halo of light and an American flag. He captioned the Wednesday post: "The Radical Left Lunatics might not like this, but I think it is quite nice!!! President DJT."
The convergence of these events underscores a broader trend of religious rhetoric and imagery being employed in political and defence communications, a practice that Bannon argues should be carefully separated from the factual, operational briefings expected from the Pentagon during times of war.
