March 20 2026, 08:15 
Many are enraged by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s invocation of God and Jesus during a press briefing about the war in Iran.
“May almighty God continue to bless our troops in this fight,” he told the press. “And again, to the American people, please pray for them every day on bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ. To the troops, keep going and Godspeed.”
Related
The U.S. thinks God is on its side in Iran. Here’s why that’s a problem…
Folks found numerous issues with Hegseth’s declaration. Some were angry over his blatant disregard for the separation of church and state, while others slammed him for bringing Jesus into anything that involves killing people. Many also called out his blatant hypocrisy for criticizing Iranian leaders in the same press briefing for their “violent messianic Islamist ideology.”
Hegseth has already been scorned across the internet for his garish grandstanding over the war in Iran. A prior press conference included a moment where he not only seemed giddy in describing the “death and destruction” the United States and Israel have brought to Iran, but where he also described the war like he was starring in an action film.
Insights for the LGBTQ+ community
Subscribe to our briefing for insights into how politics impacts the LGBTQ+ community and more.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today
Yet, he is now bringing up the peace-loving Jesus Christ in connection with the war.
impeach him just for this. i’m serious. this is supposed to be a pluralistic democracy, not a christian theocracy.
— Greg Pak (@gregpak.net) March 19, 2026 at 7:35 AM
[image or embed]
Anyone else think it's highly inappropriate for the defense secretary to say "in the name of Jesus Christ" while he's doing a briefing about the U.S. killing people?
— Mark Jacob (@markjacob.bsky.social) March 19, 2026 at 7:16 AM
This has no place coming from the official leader of the Department of Defense at the official podium as a government statement. This is exactly what the founding fathers were concerned about when they added the 1st Amendment. https://t.co/6LF9K1FbaH
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) March 19, 2026
Which country is the extremist theocracy again ? https://t.co/mJMxjBThqQ
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) March 19, 2026
There are lots of service members who are Jews, Muslims, Hindus, agnostics, atheists.
— S.V. Dáte (@svdate) March 19, 2026
Are they also called on to pray to Jesus? https://t.co/n9S8Xcj0S2
thank god these normal guys are around to protect western civilisation from unhinged religious fanatics https://t.co/HRS5uhu9HD
— Wayne Farry (@waynefarry) March 19, 2026
We are in a full on Alt right takeover. https://t.co/vOzN9S6lEL
— Mz. Cabibi (@SoulofDemocracy) March 19, 2026
W imię Jezusa będą mordować jakieś irańskie dzieci – fajne to amerykańskie chrześcijaństwo. https://t.co/a8Hl75mqxH
— zebra (@zzzebbraa) March 19, 2026
Hey Christians rallying behind Pete Hegseth's war:
— Unvarnished Tooth (@YouWontFeelThis) March 19, 2026
Thou shalt not kill has an exception for indiscriminate bombing of civilians, right? Children don't count if they're in the wrong country, right?
You've got a workaround for every other inconvenient commandment. I'm sure…
All while complaining that Iran is a messianic religious state. What a mess.
— Mol Anderton (@AndertonMol) March 19, 2026
Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.