Source: In These Times
by Kathryn Joyce
“Last Wednesday morning, a surreal scene unfolded at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (a man with two Crusades-themed tattoos and the author of a book calling for a modern ’American Crusade’) inaugurated a new, perhaps monthly Christian prayer and worship service at the Pentagon auditorium. Hegseth’s personal pastor (who leads a Tennessee church associated with theocratic (and self-described ’paleo-Confederate’) theologian Doug Wilson) flew in to lead the prayer service, where he suggested Donald Trump was divinely appointed to the presidency. And in his opening remarks, Hegseth led a prayer to ‘King Jesus,’ telling military staff gathered for the purportedly voluntary service that ’where we need to be as a nation’ is praying ’on bended knee, recognizing the providence of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.'” (05/29/25)