Trump’s Secretary of Defence invoking divine violence against Iran has intensified concerns about the fusion of religion, politics and war in US leadership.

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth delivered a prayer in the name of Jesus Christ during an Evangelical Christian service at the Pentagon on Wednesday in which he called for American soldiers to be blessed with “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy” and for “every round to find its mark” as the US-Israeli war on Iran continues despite widespread disapproval by a majority of US voters and global condemnation.

Hegseth, who has been  under fire for the overtly sectarian monthly prayer services he’s been hosting at the Pentagon, told those gathered that the prayer had been previously delivered as the “pre-mission reading” to soldiers before the January military against Venezuela, an attack on the sovereign nation which included the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady, Cilia Flores.

After quoting verses from the Bible’s ‘Book of Psalms,’ Hegseth offered a prayer intended for US soldiers fighting against Iran in war ordered by President Donald Trump without congressional approval or popular support.

Pete Hegseth, at today's Christian Prayer & Worship Service at the Pentagon, prays for Almighty God to "pour out your wrath" and "break the teeth of the ungodly." He begs the Almighty to sanction "overwhelming violence" against "those who deserve no mercy" pic.twitter.com/eJyDeTANot— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) March 25, 2026

Pete Hegseth, at today's Christian Prayer & Worship Service at the Pentagon, prays for Almighty God to........

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