Hegseth Compares 'Trump-Hating' Reporters to Enemies of Jesus

U.S. Defense Secretary cites biblical scripture to attack media coverage of U.S.-Israel conflict amid escalating feud with Pope Leo

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:42pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone reporter sitting at a desk in a dimly lit newsroom, the warm light casting deep shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the challenges of reporting on a politically charged conflict.A solitary journalist grapples with the weight of reporting on a divisive political conflict, as tensions between the government and the press escalate.Chicago Today

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared reporters to Jewish adversaries of Jesus Christ, accusing the 'legacy, Trump-hating press' of having 'hardened hearts' and only looking to 'impugn' the administration's actions. Hegseth's comments came amid an escalating feud between President Trump and Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church, over the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Why it matters

Hegseth's use of biblical language to criticize the media is part of a broader trend in the Trump administration of invoking Christian faith in times of war, which has widened a rift with the more progressive Pope Leo. This reflects the administration's efforts to appeal to its evangelical base while further polarizing the country's political and religious divides.

The details

At a Pentagon briefing, Hegseth cited a Sunday sermon about how Pharisees sought to undermine Jesus, saying 'the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel against him, how to destroy him.' Hegseth then stated, 'I sat there in church and I thought, our press are just like these Pharisees.' He accused the 'legacy, Trump-hating press' of only looking for the negative and having 'hardened hearts.' Hegseth's comments came after he led a Pentagon prayer service that included a prayer adapted from the movie Pulp Fiction, which prompted criticism.

  • On Thursday, Hegseth made the comments at a Pentagon briefing.
  • Earlier this week, the U.S. president posted images on social media of Jesus embracing him and Trump himself as a Jesus-like figure.

The players

Pete Hegseth

U.S. Defense Secretary whose Christianity has become a focus of his tenure as the head of the Pentagon.

Donald Trump

The U.S. president who has posted images on social media of Jesus embracing him and Trump himself as a Jesus-like figure.

Pope Leo

The first U.S.-born leader of the Catholic Church who has been critical of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran and has engaged in a feud with President Trump.

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What they’re saying

“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth.”

— Pope Leo, Pope

“The Pharisees scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation. Only looking for the negative. The hardened hearts of our press are calibrated only to impugn.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary

The takeaway

Hegseth's use of biblical language to criticize the media reflects the Trump administration's efforts to appeal to its evangelical base while further polarizing the country's political and religious divides. This comes amid an escalating feud between the administration and the more progressive Pope Leo over the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.