Defense Secretary Hegseth Compares Reporters to Biblical Enemies of Jesus

Hegseth invokes scripture to attack media, drawing criticism from press freedom advocates.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 6:24pm

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A cinematic painting of a solitary journalist standing in an empty government building hallway, the scene bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conceptually illustrating the strained relationship between the media and political power.As tensions between the government and the press escalate, a lone journalist stands in the shadows, a symbol of the erosion of press freedoms.Washington Today

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cited biblical scripture on Thursday to attack the media, comparing reporters to Jewish adversaries of Jesus Christ who plotted to destroy him. Hegseth's comments were seen as an attempt to counter perceived media bias against the administration.

Why it matters

Hegseth's remarks represent the latest escalation in the ongoing tensions between the government and the press, raising concerns about threats to press freedom and the erosion of democratic norms.

The details

In his comments, Hegseth invoked the Bible to accuse reporters of being akin to the Jewish leaders who conspired against Jesus. This inflammatory rhetoric is part of a broader pattern of the administration seeking to discredit and delegitimize critical media coverage.

  • Hegseth made the comments on Thursday, April 16, 2026.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Defense Secretary, known for his conservative political views and combative stance towards the media.

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The takeaway

Hegseth's biblical comparison of reporters to Jesus' enemies is the latest salvo in the ongoing war between the government and the press, further eroding public trust in democratic institutions and the free press.