Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered a prayer at a Pentagon worship service this week that explicitly called for divine violence against adversaries, asking God to "break the teeth of the ungodly" and grant military personnel "clear and righteous targets for violence." The event, a monthly Christian gathering held Wednesday, has drawn scrutiny amid an ongoing lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of such services at the Department of Defense.
Prayer Invokes Wrath Against 'The Wicked'
Hegseth recited a prayer he attributed to a military chaplain who delivered it before a planned operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. "Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans and break the teeth of the ungodly," Hegseth prayed before uniformed personnel and civilian employees. "By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish."
He continued with more specific martial language: "Grant this task force clear and righteous targets for violence. Surround them as a shield... make their arrows like those of a skilled warrior who returned not empty handed. Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation." The prayer concluded by asking for justice to be executed "swiftly and without remorse" so that "wicked souls" would be delivered to "eternal damnation."
Legal Challenge and Context of Faith
The advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a lawsuit on Monday targeting Hegseth's monthly services. The suit argues that even voluntary events create "pressure on federal employees to attend in order to appease their bosses," potentially violating constitutional principles. This legal action places a spotlight on Hegseth's public blending of evangelical faith with his role as the nation's top defense official.
Hegseth is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), a conservative Christian network co-founded by self-described Christian nationalist Doug Wilson. Wilson and other CREC pastors have previously preached at the Pentagon. The network recently made headlines when a Tennessee pastor, Brooks Potteiger—whose congregation has included Hegseth—said Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico "should be crucified." Talarico responded with a statement of forgiveness.
At a recent Pentagon briefing, Hegseth publicly called for prayer "in the name of Jesus Christ" for troops, underscoring his approach. This comes as the Secretary oversees military campaigns that have drawn demands for more transparency from congressional oversight, including operations related to Iran.
Changes to Military Chaplaincy
Separately, on Tuesday, Hegseth announced two significant changes to the military chaplain corps: chaplains will no longer wear rank insignia, displaying instead insignia reflecting their religious affiliation, and the system will use 31 standardized faith codes instead of over 200. The chaplaincy, established in 1775, traditionally provides religious services at the Pentagon, raising questions about the necessity of separate services led by the Secretary himself.
The prayer's content and the lawsuit arrive amid broader debates over the role of religion in government and military strategy. Hegseth's tenure has been marked by a dual-track approach of supporting diplomacy while vowing aggressive military postures, a stance that some critics argue is mirrored in the combative language of his prayer. The episode also intersects with legislative efforts, such as a recently introduced bill aimed at restraining unauthorized military actions by the executive branch.
As the lawsuit proceeds, the controversy highlights enduring tensions between personal religious expression and official government conduct, particularly within the chain of command at the world's most powerful military institution.
