Pete Hegseth has emerged as one of the strongest public backers of Trump’s military campaign in Iran, with Trump singling him out as an early supporter. At a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth bragged about 'death and destruction from the sky all day long' and said, 'We are punching them while they’re down.' Multiple reports indicate he has become the face of Donald Trump’s war in Iran, alarming critics who warn he has transformed the Pentagon into a staging ground for an ideological and religious crusade.
Hegseth's military background includes service in the US Army National Guard as an infantry officer, with deployments to Guantánamo Bay, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He also served as a prison guard at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp. Multiple reports reveal that in a book, Hegseth disclosed he told soldiers in Iraq to ignore legal advice about rules of engagement for killing enemy combatants. His tenure as CEO of Concerned Veterans for America ended in 2016 amid allegations of financial mismanagement, sexual impropriety, and personal misconduct, and his mother, Penelope, sent him an email in 2018 calling him 'an abuser of women' and criticizing his behavior.
We are punching them while they’re down.
President-elect Donald Trump nominated Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, a move that took Congress and the Pentagon by surprise. Hegseth had previously led the nonprofits Vets for Freedom and Concerned Veterans for America. He was confirmed by the Senate on 25 January 2025 after a narrowly secured 50-50 vote, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tiebreaking vote. During his confirmation process, Hegseth faced allegations of sexual assault and heavy alcohol use. In his inaugural remarks, Hegseth emphasized his commitment to restoring military readiness and strengthening national defense.
Since the Iran war began, Hegseth has hosted his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon, praying for 'every round find its mark' against enemies. At the service, he read a prayer attributed to a military chaplain: '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.' He also quoted from Psalms: 'I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.' Multiple reports indicate Hegseth frequently invokes his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces, depicting a Christian nation trying to vanquish foes with military might.
A very dangerous person.
His Christian rhetoric has drawn renewed scrutiny, including his past defense of the Crusades. Multiple reports note he often goes beyond standard calls for God to bless the country or troops, such as praying 'in the name of Jesus Christ.' According to The Independent - Main, historian Ronit Stahl described the shift towards specificity of Jesus Christ in Hegseth's rhetoric as new for a defense secretary. Hegseth belongs to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a conservative network co-founded by Christian nationalist Doug Wilson, and multiple reports indicate CREC pastors, including Wilson, have appeared at Hegseth’s Pentagon services multiple times. A lawsuit was filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State challenging Hegseth's Pentagon worship services, though its current status and specific allegations remain unclear.
Criticism of Hegseth's religious rhetoric has been vocal. Janessa Goldbeck, CEO of Vet Voice Foundation, called Pete Hegseth 'a very dangerous person' and 'a white Christian nationalist' with a 'permission slip from President Trump to deploy carnage.' Pope Leo XIV criticized Hegseth during an Easter mass, saying 'the desire for dominance often distorts the Christian mission.' Hegseth has expressed that there is a 'divine purpose' to the warfare in Iran and urged Americans to pray 'in the name of Jesus Christ.'
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.
Hegseth's inflammatory statements on the Iran war and rules of engagement have further fueled controversy. He said, 'We negotiate with bombs. You have a choice, as we loiter over the top of Tehran.' He described Iran’s leadership as 'rats' who have 'gone underground' and urged the 'patriotic press' to rewrite headlines about the war. During a press conference on the war with Iran, Hegseth described the rules of engagement for US soldiers as 'stupid' and declared 'no quarter, no mercy for our enemies' in Iran. He also said the American press emphasizes U.S. casualties in the Iran war because it 'wants to make the president look bad' and bashed 'fake news' during a Pentagon briefing on the war.
Hegseth has been linked to war crimes, including allegations of ordering lethal strikes on smuggling boats from Venezuela. He denied issuing a kill order for the Venezuela strikes. Admiral Frank 'Mitch' Bradley testified that he ordered the second strike himself and there was no 'kill them all' order from Hegseth. The full scope and evidence behind these allegations, including any investigations or outcomes, have not been publicly detailed. Hegseth also defended three former US soldiers convicted of war crimes and pardoned by Trump in 2019.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed.
On domestic policy, Hegseth signed a memo allowing military service members to request permission to carry personal firearms on military installations. He said current policies have turned US military installations into 'gun-free' zones, leaving personnel vulnerable. Hegseth stated that service members are 'no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American.' He cited shootings at Pensacola naval base, Fort Stewart, and Holloman air force base as examples of dangers military members face. His directive makes approval to carry firearms easier and requires thorough explanation for any denials, though how this policy has been implemented and the response from personnel and experts is not fully known.
Hegseth has voiced strong views on military leadership, diversity, and international alliances. He has called for a purge of generals for pursuing 'woke' diversity policies and questioned whether Gen Charles Brown was given the top job because he is black. He has argued for faster provision of more US weapons to Ukraine but has also called US NATO membership into question. In a separate remark, Hegseth suggested that Jews could build a new temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
The shift towards specificity of Jesus Christ in Hegseth's rhetoric is new for a defense secretary.
Hegseth's media presence and political background have shaped his public profile. He studied politics at Princeton University and was publisher and editor of the conservative Princeton Tory, where he waded into culture-war issues, according to multiple reports. He became a familiar face on TV as a contributor and co-host of Fox & Friends on Fox News, frequently interviewing and defending Trump. The Defense Department shared a post from Hegseth on X for Easter: 'The tomb is empty. The promise is fulfilled. Through His sacrifice, we are redeemed. We stand firm in faith, courage, and truth.' Trump issued a statement on Good Friday evoking the Iran war indirectly and on Easter Sunday demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz or 'you’ll be living in Hell.' Pentagon staffers have reportedly nicknamed Hegseth 'Dumb McNamara', comparing him to former Defense Secretary Robert McNamara.
The secretary of defense is the head of the United States Department of Defense and a high-ranking member of the cabinet. The secretary of defense's position of command and authority over the military is second only to that of the president.
Current policies have turned US military installations into 'gun-free' zones, leaving personnel vulnerable.
Hegseth's self-styled title and a department name change have added to the controversy. According to www.dw.com, Pete Hegseth described himself as the 'secretary of war.' However, the Department of Defense's name was changed on Sept. 5, 2025, according to research, though the current official name and when any change took effect remain ambiguous, reflecting potential shifts in military policy or rhetoric under his leadership.
Several key unknowns persist in Hegseth's tenure. The current official name of the department he leads—whether Defense or War—and when any change took effect is unclear. The status and specific allegations in the lawsuit challenging Hegseth's Pentagon worship services have not been detailed. The full scope and evidence behind the allegations of sexual assault and heavy alcohol use during Hegseth's confirmation process are not publicly known. Specific details and outcomes of the alleged war crimes in Venezuela strikes, including any investigations or resolutions, remain undisclosed. How Hegseth's policies on personal firearms on military bases have been implemented and the response from military personnel and security experts are yet to be fully assessed.
Service members are 'no less entitled to exercise their God-given right to keep and bear arms than any other American.'
In his approach to conflict, Hegseth has stated, 'We don’t want to fight wars. We want to deter them … but if we need to fight, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force.' This encapsulates a doctrine of deterrence through strength, even as his actions and words continue to provoke debate about the role of religion and ideology in U.S. military strategy.
The tomb is empty. The promise is fulfilled. Through His sacrifice, we are redeemed. We stand firm in faith, courage, and truth.
You’ll be living in Hell.
We negotiate with bombs. You have a choice, as we loiter over the top of Tehran.
The desire for dominance often distorts the Christian mission.
There is a 'divine purpose' to the warfare in Iran.
Rats who have 'gone underground'.
Secretary of war.
Stupid.
No quarter, no mercy for our enemies.
Wants to make the president look bad.
Fake news.
Woke.
Because he is black.
Jews could build a new temple on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
We don’t want to fight wars. We want to deter them … but if we need to fight, we’re going to bring overwhelming and decisive force.