Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has sparked controversy after praying for 'overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy' during a Christian worship service at the Pentagon on Wednesday. The prayer, which Hegseth said originated from a military chaplain and was given to troops after the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, included the line: 'Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.'
The remarks come 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 focus on 'self-help and self-care' rather than faith. Under the new rules, the number of religious affiliation codes will be reduced from around 200 to 31, and chaplains will no longer wear officer rank insignia, replacing it with religious insignia. Hegseth said the changes were aimed at 'making the chaplain corps great again'.
Hegseth, a member of a church affiliated with the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches, has instituted monthly prayer sessions at the Pentagon, all of which have been led by evangelicals. His integration of Christian faith into his role has drawn criticism and legal challenges. Americans United for Separation of Church and State has filed lawsuits to access public records about the prayer services, arguing that federal employees may feel pressured to attend to appease their bosses amid what it calls the Trump administration's 'Christian Nationalist agenda'.
Military veterans have previously expressed concern that Hegseth's approach could cause division and weaken the armed forces. Kristofer Goldsmith, an Iraq war veteran and CEO of Task Force Butler, warned that Christian nationalists joining the military could become 'toxic leaders' and harm national security. Hegseth has also framed the Iran war in religious terms, stating in a TV interview that the US is 'fighting religious fanatics who seek a nuclear capability in order for some religious Armageddon'.
