Defense Secretary Hegseth Prays for 'Overwhelming Violence' Against Enemies at Pentagon Christian Service

Hegseth's evangelical rhetoric and hosting of services at the Pentagon have drawn renewed scrutiny amid the ongoing Iran war.

Mar. 26, 2026 at 2:27pm

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted a Christian worship service at the Pentagon, where he prayed for 'every round to find its mark' against the 'enemies of righteousness.' Hegseth, who belongs to a conservative evangelical network, has faced criticism for his overt Christian rhetoric and hosting of these services, which some see as an imposition of his personal religious views on military personnel.

Why it matters

Hegseth's actions raise questions about the separation of church and state, as well as concerns about the role of religion in the military's decision-making and operations, particularly during times of war. The lawsuit filed by the advocacy group Americans United for Separation of Church and State highlights the controversy surrounding these Pentagon services.

The details

During the service, Hegseth read a prayer that he said was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. In the prayer, Hegseth asked for 'every round to find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,' and for 'overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.' Hegseth has a history of invoking his evangelical faith and defending the Crusades, the brutal medieval wars between Christians and Muslims.

  • The service was Hegseth's first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon since the Iran war began.
  • The lawsuit was filed on Monday, seeking to enforce a public records request from December 2025 about the worship services.

The players

Pete Hegseth

The current U.S. Defense Secretary who has been hosting monthly Christian worship services at the Pentagon and has faced criticism for his overt evangelical rhetoric and actions.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

An advocacy group that filed a lawsuit over the Pentagon's Christian worship services, arguing that Hegseth is abusing his government position to impose his personal religious views on federal workers.

Doug Wilson

A self-described Christian nationalist who is a co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), which Hegseth belongs to. Wilson has preached at Hegseth's Pentagon services.

Brooks Potteiger

Hegseth's Tennessee pastor who has preached at the Pentagon services. Potteiger will soon relocate to Washington, D.C. to lead a new CREC congregation that Hegseth has attended.

Doug Collins

The current U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who is an Air Force chaplain and Southern Baptist pastor, and has preached at Hegseth's Pentagon services.

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What they’re saying

“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”

— Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary

“Secretaries Hegseth and Chavez-DeRemer are abusing the power of their government positions and taxpayer-funded resources to impose their preferred religion on federal workers. Even if these prayer services are presented as voluntary, there is pressure on federal employees to attend in order to appease their bosses.”

— Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State

What’s next

The judge in the lawsuit filed by Americans United for Separation of Church and State will decide whether to allow the Pentagon's Christian worship services to continue.

The takeaway

Hegseth's actions at the Pentagon raise serious concerns about the separation of church and state, as well as the appropriate role of religion in military operations and decision-making. This case highlights the ongoing debate over the balance between religious freedom and the establishment clause of the Constitution.