Washington Update: Defense Secretary Promotes Controversial Christian Nationalist Views
In a recent social media post, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a video featuring a Christian nationalist church that sparked significant reactions. The video included several pastors discussing extreme views, including the idea that women should not have the right to vote.
Hegseth’s repost on X (formerly Twitter) showcases his close ties to Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson, who co-founded the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC). The video highlighted comments from a pastor advocating for the repeal of women’s voting rights and promoting a model where voting decisions are made by households instead of individuals. One female church member also expressed her commitment to submitting to her husband.
Hegseth’s post included the phrase “All of Christ for All of Life” and garnered over 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares. Reactions varied, with some users supporting the views expressed while others voiced concerns about the Defense Secretary endorsing such radical ideas.
Doug Pagitt, a pastor from the progressive evangelical group Vote Common Good, criticized the amplification of these views, stating they are held by only “small fringes of Christians.” He called it “very disturbing” that a prominent leader would share them.
A Pentagon spokesman confirmed that Hegseth is affiliated with a church linked to CREC and appreciates Wilson’s writings. Earlier in May, Hegseth hosted his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, at the Pentagon for a Christian prayer service, sending invitations through official government emails to employees and service members.
In the CNN report, Wilson expressed his desire for the nation and the world to align more closely with Christian values, stating, “I’d like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I’d like to see the world be a Christian world.”
