Military Commander Allegedly Said Trump Was 'Anointed by Jesus' for Iran Strikes
A shocking complaint filed with a religious freedom watchdog alleges that a United States military commander told non-commissioned officers that former President Donald Trump was "anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth." The anonymous complaint, provided to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, details a Monday briefing where the commander reportedly framed the ongoing U.S.-Israeli assault on Iran as part of a divine prophecy.
Complaint Details and Religious Context
The complaint was submitted by one of the NCOs present on behalf of fifteen service members, including eleven Christians, one Muslim, one Jewish individual, and two atheists. According to the NCO, the commander "urged us to tell our troops that this was 'all part of God's divine plan'" and specifically referenced numerous citations from the Book of Revelation concerning Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ. The NCO added that the superior "had a big grin on his face when he said all of this, which made his message seem even more crazy."
This incident was first reported by freelance journalist Jonathan Larsen on his Substack platform. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation has stated that this is one of more than 200 complaints it has received since the joint military operations against Iran commenced in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Concerns Over Christian Nationalism in the Military
Mikey Weinstein, president of the MRFF and a U.S. Air Force veteran, expressed grave concerns to The Guardian, noting that such reports are common whenever the U.S. or Israel is involved in Middle Eastern conflicts. "Anytime Israel or the U.S. is involved in the Middle East, we get this stuff about Christian nationalists who've taken over our government, and certainly our U.S. military," Weinstein said. He emphasized the vulnerability of military personnel, stating, "Military members are not really able to stand up for themselves, because your military superior is not your shift manager at Starbucks."
Weinstein further told Military.com that his organization has received "well in excess of 200" complaints from "well in excess of 50 installations," with reports continuing to flood in. He warned of the dangers of merging religious fanaticism with state military power, saying, "What we've been saying forever, if you look back in history whenever you've merged any sort of religious fanaticism with the machinery of the state that conducts war, we do not end up with little babbling brooks, creeks, streams, ponds or lakes. We end up with one thing: oceans and oceans of blood."
Links to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Weinstein pointed to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's hard-line Christian practices as potentially encouraging such behavior. Hegseth has introduced monthly prayer sessions at the Pentagon and reportedly attends a church in Washington, D.C., associated with Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson. "Why is anybody surprised? Hegseth makes it clear, 'Here's the template that we want,'" Weinstein remarked. He suggested that this environment might motivate commanders to adopt or feign extremist views to advance their careers or rationalize military missions.
Last summer, the Pentagon was compelled to clarify that Hegseth does believe women have the right to vote after he posted a social media video featuring pastor Jared Longshoreman, who expressed support for repealing the 19th Amendment.
Donald Trump's Relationship with Faith
The complaint's focus on Trump's alleged divine role contrasts with his often unconvincing public displays of faith. In an August 2019 interview with Bloomberg, Trump famously struggled to name a favorite Bible passage. Additionally, he has commercialized religious symbolism by selling "God Bless the U.S.A."-branded Bibles, which retail for $59.99 (or $1,000 for signed copies) and are printed in China. These editions, available in pink-and-gold and camouflage designs, include the Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence, and Pledge of Allegiance, borrowing their name from Lee Greenwood's patriotic song.
This incident raises significant questions about the intersection of religion, military conduct, and political leadership, highlighting ongoing debates over religious freedom and extremism within the U.S. armed forces.
