Defense Secretary Hegseth to Participate in Bible Reading Event After Pulp Fiction Gaffe

Hegseth will join Trump, Carson, and Duffy in nationwide Bible reading project after controversial Pentagon prayer incident.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 12:34pm

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A cinematic painting of an American flag hanging in a dimly lit government office, casting long shadows across the floor, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political tensions.The upcoming Bible reading event aims to emphasize the Christian foundations of American government, even as political divisions deepen.Washington Today

Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, will take part in an upcoming nationwide Bible reading event just days after an embarrassing incident at a Pentagon prayer service where he recited a verse from the film Pulp Fiction. The 'America Reads the Bible' project will feature high-profile political and government leaders reading passages from the Bible over the course of a week-long event at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

Why it matters

Hegseth's participation in the Bible reading event comes after he faced criticism for invoking religious language to justify military violence at a previous Pentagon prayer service. The upcoming event appears aimed at emphasizing the Christian roots of the nation's founding under the Trump administration.

The details

The 'America Reads the Bible' event will run for a week, starting with Genesis 1 on Sunday and ending with the last chapter of Revelation on Saturday. Most participants, including Hegseth, will read their passages live at the Museum of the Bible, while some high-profile figures like the Secretary of State have pre-recorded their segments.

  • The Bible reading event will take place over the course of one week, starting on Sunday and ending the following Saturday.
  • Hegseth's embarrassing Pulp Fiction incident at a Pentagon prayer service occurred just days before he is set to participate in the Bible reading project.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Secretary of Defense who will be participating in the nationwide Bible reading event.

Donald Trump

The former U.S. President who will also be providing a Bible reading for the project.

Ben Carson

The U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development who will be reading from the Bible as part of the event.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation who will be contributing a Bible reading for the project.

Marco Rubio

The U.S. Secretary of State who has pre-recorded a segment for the Bible reading event.

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What they’re saying

“Participants include the secretary of state, Marco Rubio; the secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth; and the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy.”

— Ruth Graham, New York Times Reporter

“The event has been in the works for more than a year, envisioned in part as an invitation for leaders to 'humble themselves in front of the American people' in anticipation of the country's 250th anniversary.”

— Ms. Pounds

What’s next

The Bible reading event will take place over the course of one week, from Sunday to the following Saturday, with participants reading passages live at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C.

The takeaway

Hegseth's participation in the Bible reading project comes after he faced criticism for his controversial comments at a Pentagon prayer service, raising questions about the political motivations behind the event and the role of religion in government under the Trump administration.