general
Pete Hegseth draws scrutiny over violent rhetoric, faith ties and promotion decisions
Reports say the US defense secretary has used violent language in a Pentagon prayer, maintained ties to Christian nationalist figures, faced allegations of removing Black and female officers from promotion lists, and overseen personnel changes tied to civilian harm mitigation.
Mar 28th 2026 ยท United States
Insights
- At a Pentagon Christian service Hegseth reportedly prayed for "every round [to] find its mark" and for "overwhelming violence of action" against enemies, according to public remarks reported this week.
- Media reports say a Defense Department program to reduce civilian harm was dismantled and some legal advisers were removed during his tenure.
- The New York Times reported Hegseth struck the names of two Black and two female officers from a promotions list after a staffer said Trump "would not want to stand next to a Black female officer."
- Hegseth has acknowledged ties to conservative evangelical networks and has reposted material from Doug Wilson, who describes himself as a Christian nationalist.
- His spiritual adviser Brooks Potteiger appeared on a podcast making imprecatory comments about a political candidate and later said his prayers were aimed at conversion rather than literal death.
- In 2019 Hegseth joked on air that he had not washed his hands for years, a remark he later described as a joke.