Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked controversy after leading a Christian worship service at the Pentagon where he prayed for 'overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy'. The service, held on Wednesday, was Hegseth's first since the Iran war began, according to the Associated Press.
During the prayer, Hegseth said: 'Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.' The prayer was reportedly given to troops after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US.
The remarks came a day after Hegseth announced changes to the military's chaplain corps, which he claimed had been 'infected by political correctness and secular humanism' and 'watered down' to become 'nothing more than therapists'. He said the chaplain corps would reduce its religious affiliation codes from about 200 to 31, and chaplains would wear religious insignia instead of officer rank insignia, in pursuit of 'making the chaplain corps great again'.
Hegseth has instituted monthly prayer sessions at the Pentagon, all presided over by evangelicals. He is a member of a church affiliated with the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches, founded by Doug Wilson, a self-identified Christian nationalist who has himself led a Pentagon prayer service.
Critics have raised concerns about Hegseth's integration of Christian faith into his role. Military veterans have warned that such actions could cause division and weaken the military. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed lawsuits to access public records about the prayer services, arguing that they may pressure federal employees to attend and violate religious freedom.
