Hegseth touts reforms of military at Christian broadcasters event

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth headlined the National Religious Broadcasters’ Thursday celebration of America’s 250th anniversary. The occasion was part of the organization’s 2026 International Christian Media Convention. Hegseth spoke about the Christian roots of America’s founding and said he, like George Washington, believed an army’s success is directly linked to its moral character.

Hegseth highlighted his decision to start an optional monthly Christian service at the Pentagon—to which the audience responded with loud applause. The service was well attended, he said. He also said he was also working to reform the Army Chaplain Corps to focus on spiritual guidance. The corps’ spiritual fitness handbook in 2025 contained only one reference to God, he said. Christ is King, Hegseth said, and Christians should never allow anyone to stop them from speaking that truth.

What else did Hegseth cover in his speech? The defense secretary also spent time characterizing various initiatives of the Trump administration as Biblical. The list included pro-life policies, combating human trafficking, and protecting children from explicit sexual materials and transgender locker room policies. He also said that the administration's immigration enforcement efforts were Biblical, because they protected people from criminals who would steal from, assault, and poison them. He characterized President Donald Trump as a fighter for people of faith in both the United States and abroad.

Hegseth also repeatedly slammed left-leaning Americans, accusing them of harboring hearts full of rage and hate. They were fueled by toxic ideas that were foreign to the western way of life, he said, according to CNN. He went on to promise that the Trump administration would protect America from what he described as godless ideologies and pagan religions.

Dig deeper: Read Liz Lykins’ report on controversial pastor Doug Wilson’s recent sermon at the Pentagon.