US defense chief Hegseth leads Christian prayer service at Pentagon

[highplainsdem]

Source: Reuters

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon on Wednesday, in what appeared to be a first for a Pentagon chief and something he said would become a monthly occurrence.

-snip-

Wednesday's event, "Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service," was broadcast on the Pentagon's internal television network and can be seen here.

-snip-

Hegseth's pastor, Brooks Potteiger, also spoke, and prayed for President Donald Trump.

"Thank you for the way that you have used him to bring stability and moral clarity to our land, and we pray that you would continue to protect him," Potteiger said.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-defense-chief-hegseth-leads-christian-prayer-service-pentagon-2025-05-21/?p

[Vinca]

1. The attendees should use the time to pray for a new Defense Secretary.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. The crosses at Hegseth's "Christian Prayer & Worship Services" tend to be burning

judging by his tattoos.

Trump's cabinet, busy wrapping themselves in flags and carrying crosses ...

[Frasier Balzov]

5. Sinclair Lewis.

[Silent Type]

3. Preparation for the next Crusades.

[C_U_L8R]

4. Moral clarity???

That pastor needs to turn in his crucifix for so much deceit. Fightin' Jesus would kick this one's ass clear across the marketplace.

[Skittles]

6. this sanctimonious crap has NO PLACE in government

WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE

WWJD? Not a DAMN THING these fascist fucks are into.

[vapor2]

30. Agreed and no one has to yet tell me WTF is wrong with them

But I hear that they are sadists

[Skittles]

32. "judge not lest ye be judged"

these fascist fucks judge EVERYONE

[SheltieLover]

7. Separation of church & state?

[Celerity]

38. Well, according to a Dem leader, God is on the throne.

[Blue Owl]

8. Hard to not see the Nazi

[La Coliniere]

9. This mega adulterer is a hypothetical phony

who refuses to recognize the separation of church and state. In a rational country we’d be calling for his resignation, pronto.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Rapist traitor leads a prayer service.

[bluestarone]

11. BARF!

[twodogsbarking]

12. Is this allowed?

[Karasu]

19. I mean, almost nothing they've been doing is allowed, but they're doing it anyway.

[vapor2]

31. Like defying SCOTUS? accepting a jet from a foreign country? taking our benefits? etc etc

[erronis]

13. Only once a month? A good xian should be on their prayer blankets three times a day.

Or at least crouching under the desk of their supervisor.

[HeartsCanHope]

14. This is happening on our dime. If they want to meet in their off time for a service, fine.

Just not on my dime. If Hegseth gets to have his service, then Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheist, and any other religion or belief system gets equal time. This is NOT a Christian state. He's supposed to be running the Pentagon, not preaching or praying. I wouldn't listen to an alcoholic rapist for tips on serving Jesus, either. Sickening!

[Skittles]

24. waste, fraud and abuse

praying at work hits all three

[Lovie777]

15. he's no Christian..............

[liberalgunwilltravel]

16. Frag

The SOB.

[John1956PA]

17. Attorney General John Ashcroft was doing something like this in the Bush-43 administration.

[Karasu]

18. Yep. And now we have an entire administration full of Ashcrofts.

Hell, Hegseth makes Ashcroft look almost sane.

Almost.

[HeartsCanHope]

20. Wasn't he the one that okayed waterboarding?

Don't think Jesus would have okayed that!

[Crowman2009]

21. How long before his so-called pastor is involved in a sex abuse scandal?

[patphil]

22. That's absoluitely repulsive. These people do not follow the teachings of Jesus, and mock God with their words.

Moral clarity indeed!
The forces of darkness are strong in these people.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

23. Did he drink a whole bottle of Communion wine?

[LudwigPastorius]

25. "Thank you for the way that you have used him to bring stability and moral clarity to our land.."

[Grins]

26. "Secretary of Defense CHRISTIAN Prayer?"

Yeah; about that….

[sheshe2]

27. After his prayer did the priest...

After his prayer did the priest and heavenly choir break into a rendition of Nearer My God To Thee while standing in front of tsf's portrait?

[Norrrm]

28. "moral clarity"

[Grins]

29. Imagine if it was; "Secretary of Defense MUSLIM Prayer & Worship Service"

The colossal pants-shitting from the Reich would shake the planet.

[Americanme]

33. This is revolting.

You can lead a hedonistic life, get drunk, get laid, chase wealth, constantly put people down and call them names... but put on a public religious display, briefly pretend to be pious, and people fall for it every time.

[COL Mustard]

34. Where was the sacramental wine

Inquiring minds want to know!

[sinkingfeeling]

35. "Moral clarity"? Lying, cheating, taking bribes, harming children, and wrecking our future are

moral activities?

[bmichaelh]

36. From Hamlet

Angels and ministers of grace defend us.

From Hamlet

Also in Star Trek IV The Voyage Home

?si=jhCbR26x5SOmrMfW

[samsingh]

37. Then he should act like Christians are meant to act - with humility, honesty, and generosity

unfortunately, all the right wing Christians who purport to follow Jesus's teachings do the exact opposite

[Mysterian]

39. Floundering fool thinks phony religiosity will keep him in job

Hegseth's incompetence places this nation in danger every single day.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

40. Pete Hegseth Leads Christian Prayer Service in the Pentagon

The event was held in the Pentagon’s auditorium during working hours and featured Mr. Hegseth’s pastor.

Link to tweet

Gift link
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/21/us/politics/pete-hegseth-prayer-pentagon.html?unlocked_article_code=1.I08.4gmf.qIFjmAShbzB2&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Christian prayer service in the Pentagon’s auditorium on Wednesday morning, during working hours, in which President Trump was praised as a divinely appointed leader.

The event, billed as the “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service,” was standing room only and ran for about 30 minutes, with Brooks Potteiger, the pastor of Mr. Hegseth’s church in Tennessee, as the main speaker.

Mr. Hegseth said he intended that the prayer service become a monthly event......

Mr. Trump has long dismissed concerns that his words and actions as president may violate the First Amendment’s prohibition of establishing a state religion. On the campaign trail in 2024, Mr. Trump pledged to champion his followers’ brand of conservative Christianity across American life and government, and he signed an executive order in February banning “anti-Christian bias” in the federal government.

“This is precisely where I need to be, and I think exactly where we need to be as a nation, at this moment,” Mr. Hegseth, standing at a lectern bearing the seal of the Defense Department, said in his opening remarks: “in prayer, on bended knee recognizing the providence of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.” He added, “Knowing that there’s an author in heaven overseeing all of this, who’s underwritten all of it, for us, on the cross, gives me the strength to proceed.”

The defense secretary said that attendance at the prayer service was voluntary, but encouraged the uniformed military personnel and civilian employees there to tell their co-workers about it.

This is a violation of the First Amendment and the wall between church and state. Hegseth and trump are making christianity the official state religion.