Hegseth Prays for “Overwhelming Violence” in Iran in the “Name of Jesus Christ”

The secretary of defense has previously said that the US is fighting Muslim “religious fanatics” in the Iran war.

By Sharon Zhang , Truthout

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth asked Pentagon officials to pray for “overwhelming violence” against enemies in Iran and elsewhere in the “name of Jesus Christ” at a Christian worship service on Wednesday.

The remarks, made at Hegseth’s monthly worship service — the first he’s held since the U.S. and Israel began their war on Iran — reinforced public concerns over his Christian nationalist views and his vows of unrestrained violence in the U.S.’s military operations.

Hegseth recited a prayer that he says was given by a chaplain to troops ahead of the U.S.’s illegal raid of Venezuela and kidnapping of then-President Nicolás Maduro in January.

“I pursued my enemies and overtook them. I did not turn back ‘til they were consumed. I thrust them through so that they were not able to rise. They fell under my feet,” Hegseth said. “And those who hated me, I destroyed. They cried for help, but there was none to save.” He called on God to “snap the rod of the oppressor” and “break the teeth of the ungodly.”

Hegseth called on Pentagon officials in attendance to repeat such prayers for American troops.

“Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy,” he said, calling for “justice to be delivered without remorse.”

“We ask these things in bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ,” he concluded.

Hegseth has been open about his support for an American-led repeat of the Crusades, in which Christians and Muslims fought in brutal Medieval wars. Faith organizations have previously criticized Hegseth for his extremist Christian nationalist views, saying that they erode religious freedoms and advance dangerous, white supremacist viewpoints at the top levels of government.