Among the most consequential appointments in Trump’s second-term cabinet is Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense (2025–present). He isn’t just a former media figure. He’s a Christian nationalist with dominionist views in charge of the Pentagon, directly shaping U.S. military policy, international strategy, and internal culture.
Hegseth’s power lies in the fusion of religion, military authority, right-wing politics, and, increasingly, tech-enabled governance to an extent into one deeply influential militant persona that now sits atop American defense. His worldview is not merely radical—it’s militant. And now it sits at the top of American defense.
In more ways than you can imagine, leftists have surrounded traditional American patriots on all sides, ready to close in for the kill: killing our founders, killing our flag, and killing capitalism,”
Pete Hegseth, American Crusade: Our Fight to Stay Free.
As Secretary of Defense in 2025, Pete Hegseth is steering U.S. military policy toward a faith-based framework—dismantling DEI, elevating “spiritual readiness,” and blurring civilian control. Critics warn that this embeds Christian nationalism into the Pentagon and accelerates America’s slide toward authoritarianism.
This post lays out why Pete Hegseth is not just a dangerous Christian ideologue but a central architect of America’s creeping militarized theocracy.
Pete Hegseth: The Christian Evangelist In Uniform
Government Position: Secretary of Defense (2025–present). He is trusted by Trump for his ideology, loyalty, and media presence. He was a close Trump confidante and frequent White House advisor from 2016.
His Military Background: Army National Guard, three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has supported members of the military accused of war crimes and criticized the military’s justice system.
Ideology Markers: Positions aligned with Christian Nationalism, White Supremacy, and Dominionism. He opposes all DEI initiatives and has repeatedly advanced rhetoric that is hostile to democratic norms and women’s equality. He sees “leftists” and “progressives” as enemies who are an existential threat to the United States. His pastor is Doug Wilson, a known Dominionist and ardent advocate for Christian nationalism and a theocratic America.
Prior Media Role: Fox News co-host, “Fox & Friends Weekend”
January 6 Stance: Called participants Patriots. who “love freedom” and were “people who love our country”. They had “been re-awakened to the reality of what the left has done” to their country.; warned the military might “pick a side” if Democrats won.
Previously Flagged By Military Personnel As An Insider Threat: (see below for the full story)
Hegseth’s views on women in combat, infidelity, and more — in his own words
The sexual act cannot be made into an egalitarian pleasuring party. A man penetrates, conquers, colonizes, plants. A woman receives, surrenders, accepts.
These are the words of Pete Hegseth’s Pastor, Doug Wilson
Military Media Star To Political Strategist
Pete Hegseth’s trajectory from Fox News commentator to Secretary of Defense wasn’t accidental—it was orchestrated. He leveraged his Fox & Friends Weekend platform to mainstream Christian nationalist frames, faith-first militarism, and anti-DEI narratives to portray himself as the patriotic voice of the “real America”—blending militarism, Christian language, and grievance politics.
This media platform set the stage for him to exert policy influence, allowing him to inject his ideological rhetoric into mainstream Republican messaging. Most importantly, it enabled him to position himself as a loyalist for Trump’s second-term cabinet. That media-to-policy pipeline is how his rhetoric became doctrine.
Between his media influence, combat narrative, and religious-nationalist messaging, he was able to become one of the most ideologically aligned and loyal figures in Trump’s inner circle.
“America is less safe, and our generals simply do not care about the oath that they swore to uphold. The generals are too busy assessing how domestic ‘extremists’ wearing Carhartt jackets will usurp our ‘democracy’ with gate barriers or flagpoles,”
Pete Hegseth, ‘The War on Warriors.’
His critiques of military leadership, particularly opposing General Charles Q. Brown Jr.—a Black officer and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs—cemented his standing as an anti-“woke” warrior within right-wing circles.
Pete Hegseth sees himself as an American Crusader (inspired by Medieval Crusades): “We don’t want to fight, but like our fellow Christians 1,000 years ago, we must. Our American crusade is not about literal swords, and our fight is not with guns yet.”
Pete Hegseth, American Crusade
A Faith-Based Framing Of Military Authority
What we have been seeing since his confirmation is Christian nationalism in the military—not patriotism. Hegseth consistently recasts service as a spiritual battle for America’s soul, and labels counter-extremism and DEI efforts as attacks on “patriotic Christian men.”.
In his 2024 book The War on Warriors, he writes that diversity and extremism countermeasures have choked out “patriotic, Christian men” from the military, positioning “woke” leadership as a betrayal of national strength. What he actually means is that only white Christian men should serve in the military.
Pete Hegseth also argued that the Pentagon overreacted by taking steps to address extremism after January 6. He took leadership to task for the military’s efforts to remove people it deemed white supremacists and violent extremists from the ranks. He argues post-J6 extremism reviews were “fake” and “manufactured,” pushing “rank-and-file patriots out of their formations”—language he later translated into policy.
Denied Duty — A Clue to His Extremist Branding
- Though not formally at war, Hegseth was barred from National Guard service during Biden’s 2021 inauguration due to his “Deus Vult” (“God wills it”) tattoo, flagged as a potential “insider threat” by a fellow service member.
- The phrase “Deus Vult” has been adopted by extremist groups, including some involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. Experts see it as a radical call to arms disguised as spiritual conviction.
- The federal rejection of his participation marked a turning point: Hegseth went from grounded service member to vocal critic of military “politicization,” fortifying his promise to return as an uncompromising cultural reformer.
The inauguration incident highlights how extremist signaling can brand even those within institutions—and how Hegseth later weaponized that brand to fuel resentment and ideological unity. By positioning himself as a martyr of “culture war extremism,” he paved his path to the Pentagon, where such beliefs can be transformed into institutional power.
Sources Used:
- Pete Hegseth had been flagged by fellow service member as possible ‘Insider Threat’
- Trump defense secretary pick Pete Hegseth was flagged as potential military ‘insider threat’ because of ‘Deus Vult’ tattoo
- Hegseth says he was blocked from working Biden inauguration
- Ask PolitiFact: Did Pete Hegseth’s tattoos bar him from National Guard service in 2021?
- How Trump’s Pentagon pick Hegseth fell out of love with the US military
“Anti‑Christian bigotry in the media on full display. … This type of targeting of Christians, conservatives, patriots … will stop on DAY ONE at DJT’s DoD.”
Pete Hegseth on criticism over his tattoos
Branded as an insider threat for extremist symbolism, he then cast himself as a martyr of “anti-Christian bias”—a narrative later used to justify policy shifts.
The Strategic Vision, Symbols, & Ideology of Pete Hegseth
Christian Nationalist Worldview: A Holy War Framing Of American Politics
Pete Hegseth does not simply advocate for Christian values—he is openly pushing for a government and military rooted in Christian theocracy. His worldview blends military force, Christianity, white supremacy, and authoritarianism into a single, dangerous ideology.
Hegseth’s presence at the Pentagon is a live case of Dominionism in government, where sectarian theology outranks pluralism. His symbolism (“Deus Vult”), speeches, and policy moves telegraph a theocratic frame for U.S. power.
“Civil war is coming whether we want it or not. If the Left wins, we’ll be fighting for our very lives.”“Some form of civil war … the military and police, both bastions of freedom‑loving patriots, will be forced to make a choice.”
Pete Hegseth, American Crusade
Hegseth’s Key Beliefs & Behaviors
- “God Wills It” Tattoo: Hegseth’s tattoo, “Deus Vult,” was a battle cry of the Crusades—today it is used by white supremacists and Christian nationalists as a call to arms. It was this tattoo that led to Hegseth being removed from National Guard duties during Biden’s inauguration due to concerns it signaled violent extremism.
- Christian Supremacy: In speeches, Hegseth frequently describes America as a “Christian nation,” and advocates for military leaders to be “men of faith.”
- Rewriting Military Ethics: In 2025, under his guidance, the DoD released an internal values memo asserting that “moral fitness” included alignment with “traditional American Judeo-Christian values”—effectively marginalizing Muslims, atheists, and others.
- Christians were born to rule over all: Hegseth is a dominionist. He believes that Christians are born to rule – by force if necessary.
- In his 2020 book, he wrote: Hegseth sees himself as an American Crusader, inspired by the Medieval Crusades. Deus Vult is worn by those who “see themselves as at war with those trying to take down American Christianity and Western civilization at large”.
Branded as an insider threat for extremist symbolism, Hegseth re-cast himself as a martyr of “anti-Christian bias”—a narrative he later weaponized to justify policy change.
“We must take back this country for Jesus Christ, and the battlefield is our first line of defense.”
Pete Hegseth, Faith & Freedom Summit, March 2024
In Other Countries, Pete Hegseth Would Be Regarded As A Terrorist
The U.S. military has always upheld the separation of church and state and operated as a non-partisan, pluralistic institution. Hegseth is intentionally collapsing this wall, aligning the armed forces with a violent religious ideology—a hallmark of authoritarian regimes.
Comparisons to the Taliban, Saudi Arabia, and Iran are extremely appropriate here. Elsewhere in the world, the American military has literally fought religious extremists who are just like Pete Hegseth.
The rise of military religious extremism within the U.S. is not speculative—it’s already policy under Hegseth’s leadership.
When religious extremists control the military, any democratic dissent becomes a religious betrayal, not a political act. We just have to look at the Taliban to understand how this plays out.
White Male Christian Supremacy Is Now Being Framed As Security
Under Hegseth, white, male, Christian identity is increasingly framed as synonymous with security and cohesion—an assumption civil-rights groups and security experts say marginalizes minorities and undermines merit.
He views white male Christian dominance as essential to national stability and peace, which turns racial and religious minorities into security risks by default.
The Data & Blatant Double Standards
U.S. Terrorism Reality Check
- 74% of all deadly extremist violence in the U.S. since 2010 was committed by right-wing, mostly white, mostly Christian men.
- Only about 2% of attacks were by Muslim or foreign-born extremists.
- Multiple datasets from 2020–2025 (DHS, FBI, CSIS, ADL) show that right-wing extremists (MAGA-aligned, white supremacist, anti-government) account for 75% to 90% of all U.S. domestic terror incidents and fatalities
- These data points are routinely glossed over in official rhetoric
- Analysts argue this skewed threat perception routinely downplays white christian men right-wing violence while recasting pluralism as a risk.
Hegseth (and the GOP’s) America
- Christian white men are elevated as the default patriots, the real patriots of the Country, despite the insurmountable evidence to the contrary.
- Muslim service members face increased surveillance.
- Immigration from Latin America is treated as a potential insurgency.
- Leftists and Progressives are a threat to America
“Hegseth’s brand of Christian nationalism at the Pentagon is already dividing the ranks—and doing untold damage to the future of the U.S. military.”
The Guardian
Militarizing Christian Nationalism
What Hegseth is doing is so much deeper than just some policy tinkering—he’s institutionalizing Christian nationalism in the military. His unapologetic push toward military religious extremism echoes the theocratic regimes that Americans once fought against.
What Hegseth is doing is militarizing the Sermon on the Mount—he’s building an American version of the Taliban, one base at a time.
At no point in U.S. history has the Department of Defense been so explicitly entangled with organized religion—especially a violent, exclusionary form of it.
The theocratic military governance that Hegseth is implementing is a hallmark of regimes like Iran (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Pakistan’s ISI, or the Taliban. In each, the armed forces act not as defenders of a pluralistic state, but as enforcers of a religious vision.
“A religious military under authoritarian leadership is not protecting democracy—it’s enforcing dogma with a gun.”
Rachel Maddow, MSNBC
A “God-Willed” Military Doctrine
From the “Deus Vult” tattoo on his bicep to his speeches invoking a spiritual “holy war,” Hegseth is not hiding the religious foundation of his defense policy.
Public Endorsements Of Religious Militarism
In American Crusade, Hegseth writes: “We are not at war with Islam. But we should be. Just like we were at war with communism.” He describes the military as “the last bastion of American Christian manhood.”
Religious Extremism In The U.S. Military
An Associated Press investigation found that more than 480 people with a military background were accused of ideologically driven extremist crimes from 2017 through 2023. This includes over 230 people arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection (this data was collected and analyzed by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism).
Although these numbers are small, plots involving people with military backgrounds were more likely to involve mass casualties.
The number of religious extremists in the military will only increase with Pete Hegseth in charge.
The Military Now Has Christian Faith Based Policies
Pete Hegseth has long championed the cause of explicit Christian faith as central to American military power. As Secretary of Defense, he has transformed this belief into active policy. This is religious indoctrination in the ranks. His embrace of a faith-based military policy isn’t subtle—it’s being written into evaluations, training, and command structure.
The “Spiritual Readiness” Mandate
In February 2025, Hegseth announced the inclusion of “spiritual readiness” as a core part of military evaluations—essentially measuring religiosity as a component of military preparedness.
Enforcement Mechanisms Inside the Ranks
The enforcement mechanisms include the “spiritual readiness” scoring and a chaplain empowerment model that elevates religious conformity inside units.
Chaplain Empowerment Initiative
Bolstered military chaplains with expanded authority to lead platoon-wide prayer, evangelize, and discipline recruits on moral grounds—a move criticized as unconstitutional by multiple watchdog groups, including the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).
A Purge of “Anti-Christian Bias”
Hegseth used the Office of the Inspector General to investigate “anti-Christian discrimination” within leadership, resulting in the reassignment or forced retirement of multiple officers who had objected to proselytizing in the ranks.
“We are restoring God to the battlefield, where He belongs.”
Pete Hegseth, address to Liberty University’s ROTC Commissioning Class, March 2025
Lie Detectors, “Signalgate”, & Internal Control
Hegseth’s Pentagon increasingly resembles an intelligence state—deploying surveillance and suspicion even in trusted ranks.
Polygraph Tests To Intimidate
In spring 2025, he authorized widespread polygraph tests targeting Pentagon staff suspected of leaking or dissent—even though staff questioned the legality and efficacy. The White House eventually intervened to halt the practice.
The “Signalgate” Scandal
Hegseth was linked to a leak of classified plans via Signal messages, provoking multiple firings, internal chaos, and cross-agency investigations. Allies even described the Pentagon as the “crème de la crème of dysfunction.”
The Historical Parallels: We All Know Where This Leads
International Case Studies On Religious Extremism Against Americans
Germany & Adolf Hitler’s Authoritarian Regime (1933 to 1945)
Hitler used religious language like “God’s mission for Germany” to justify militarization and invasion—religious nationalism paved the path to war. It took two World Wars to end Hitler’s reign of terror. Millions of innocent lives were lost.
Vietnam (1965 to 1975)
The Vietnam War is a complex and controversial conflict, and the second-longest war for America. Learn more about the complicated and controversial war in Vietnam.
Afghanistan & the Taliban (1999 to 2021)
Initially presented as defenders of culture and faith, they turned national institutions into weapons of repression. Longest American war ever, lasting 20 years with significant support from NATO and Western allies now under attack by Trump. Learn more about the war against al-Qaeda and the taliban, including the full timeline of events and support from NATO/Allies.
Iraq & Saddam Hussein’s Authoritarian Regime (2003 to 2011)
The Iraq War was an armed conflict between a United States-led coalition force against the regime of Saddam Hussein from 2003 to 2011. The war was part of a broader campaign against terrorist activity known as the Global War on Terror. Learn more about the Iraq war.
“Our forces are only as strong as the morality that guides them—and for us, that’s Jesus Christ.”
Pete Hegseth, Military Officers Association Address, Feb 2025
Iran
When clerics took over the military, it pushed out moderates, banned dissent, and eventually used the military to suppress women’s protests.
Russia & Putin’s Authoritarian Regime (2000 to Present)
Putin’s regime aligned itself with the Russian Orthodox Church from the beginning, pushing laws to “protect traditional values”—while silencing dissent and expanding global warfare. Has invaded Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine twice, as well as relentlessly attacked NATO Countries for decades in other ways.
When belief—not fact—guides military action, we end up in long, costly, bloody conflicts. Hegseth’s “holy war” mindset threatens to repeat that yet again – only this time in America or with close allies in the Western World.
An Anti-Woman and Anti-DEI Agenda
Under Secretary Pete Hegseth, the Pentagon moved quickly to dismantle DEI in the military and replace it with a faith-based military policy centered on “spiritual readiness.” Critics say these changes institutionalize Christian nationalism in the military and weaken readiness by driving out talent and chilling dissent.
“leftists” – proponents of LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights and racial justice – lurk around every corner, posing an existential threat to the United States.
Pete Hegseth, American Crusade
Women In Uniform: Hegseth’s Stated Positions
- “We shouldn’t have women in combat roles. It weakens our force and complicates the mission.” — Hegseth, Fox News, 2019
- “The Left used women to weaken our resolve. Feminism is just Marxism with lipstick.” — Pete Hegseth, American Crusade, p. 203
- Women are submissive nurturers, unfit for the rigors of combat
- According to his former sister-in-law, he even stated women shouldn’t vote or work.
- He belongs to the extremist conservative Christian movement that wants to relegate women to a specific — and ultimately inferior — role in society.
- Women should not be able to vote: It Sure Looks Like Pete Hegseth Doesn’t Think Women Should Vote
“The Department of Defense under Hegseth has become a laboratory for gender exclusion and authoritarian religious ideology.”
Human Rights Watch Report, June 2025
His hatred of feminism, gender equality, and diversity policies is documented, loud, and now a policy. These are not passive views – they are actively taking shape in the Pentagon now, dangerously undermining military readiness through intolerance and hierarchy.
“I think the single dumbest phrase in military history is ‘our diversity is our strength.’ … ‘Woke’ and DEI initiatives undermine unit cohesion and meritocracy.”
Pete Hegseth, addressing Pentagon staff
His actions go far beyond ideology—they are dismantling protections across the armed forces. It is a transformation that shifts the United States from being part of the Western World to reminiscent of a third-world country.
Hegseth’s Rationale: The War on Warriors
After active duty, Hegseth began to reject inclusion because he believes only white men can be true Americans serving in military roles. He described the Pentagon as being consumed by woke ideology and claimed that it had pushed out “patriotic Christian men” (because it had become so diverse).
“Woke generals are weakening our ranks. We need warriors, not social experiments.”
Pete Hegseth, Fox & Friends, Jan 2025
Women In Uniform: The Policy Realities
As outlined above, the Pentagon dismantled DEI and installed a faith-based military policy built around “spiritual readiness,” a shift critics say undermines readiness and chills dissent.
“We’re leaving wokeness and weakness behind.
No more electric tanks, no more gender confusion, no more pronouns, no more excuses—full stop.”
Pete Hegseth, Army War College remarks, April 2025
- Dissolved the Pentagon’s DEI office.
- Cut ~80–83% of personnel assigned to LGBTQ+, racial, or gender inclusion programs
- Required trainings to be “faith compatible” or canceled.
- Introduced “spiritual readiness” in evaluations.
- The sweeping faith-based military policy rewards religious alignment over merit or readiness.
- Gendered Morality Index pilot: Measuring “unit cohesion” with a scoring system that penalizes transgender inclusion, non-traditional family support, and openly LGBTQ+ leadership.
- Weaponized military algorithms to gauge how “woke” they are
- Branded military slogans like “our diversity is our strength” are now the “dumbest phrases”.
- The firing of any high-ranking officer associated with DEI. That includes women and people of color in leadership roles with decades of experience and skill who have been removed.
The Trump administration has also sought to bar transgender individuals from joining the U.S. military and remove all who are currently serving. The Pentagon says transgender people are medically unfit, something civil rights activists say is untrue and constitutes illegal discrimination.
Reuters, August 2025
Anti – Transgender
As part of the President, Pete Hegseth and the GOP’s hatred towards transgender individuals, all transgender individuals serving in the military are being told that they either quit or get forced out. Additionally, the U.S. Air Force is denying early retirement to all transgender service members with between 15 and 18 years of military service, opting instead to force them out with no retirement benefits. These longer-serving transgender service members will have the same choice as more junior ones: quit or be forced out. US Air Force denies early retirement for group of transgender service members:
Tech, AI, & Military Surveillance
Under Hegseth, the Pentagon is now using AI-driven surveillance and ideological scoring for domestic purposes—repurposing readiness analytics into domestic monitoring tools.
AI-driven surveillance and ideological screening has been expanded to turn the analytics once used for readiness into tools for domestic monitoring and “woke risk” scoring. It’s a shift in how the U.S. military uses emerging technologies—by directing AI and surveillance tech toward domestic dissent and “wokeness.”
Palantir & Founders Fund: Project SENTINEL AI
What it is: A predictive behavioral analysis AI platform launched by launched with Palantir and Thiel-backed Founders Fund that flags service members for “ideological inconsistencies.”
Why it matters: Disguised as just being military tech, this has created a McCarthyist surveillance system inside the military, punishing dissent and silencing free expression.
Weaponizing Military DEI Algorithms Against The “Woke”
What it is: Diversity tracking software has been repurposed into a “woke risk analysis” tool, scoring units on pronoun use, event participation, and social media activity.
Why it matters: Units found “too woke” lose promotions and funding, effectively turning inclusion into a liability.
Integrating Christian Frameworks: FaithTech Integration
What it is: Christian nationalist startups like Covenant Code Labs and Red Shield Analytics received Pentagon contracts to build “ethics filters” into drone targeting systems—coded in explicitly Christian frameworks.
Why it matters: Coding military AI around Christian frameworks risks embedding religious bias into life-and-death combat decisions.
“We’ve turned Pentagon AI into a shield for American values, not a sword for leftist agendas.”
Pete Hegseth, Fox & Friends, April 2025
These tools aren’t confined to the military. Under Hegseth, they’re now appearing across U.S. cities, turning civilian spaces into monitored battlegrounds.
Increasing Surveillance And Civilian Enforcement In America
Hegseth is expanding military surveillance and civilian enforcement, echoing authoritarian models abroad and targeting protest movements at home.
Civil Readiness Corps
What it is: A proposed volunteer enforcement auxiliary modeled after ICE, tasked with “supporting homeland security and moral stability.” Surveillance drones are already deployed over U.S. cities.
Why it matters: Embeds paramilitary-style enforcement into civilian life, mirroring authoritarian militias in Russia and Iran.
Data Fusion with Project Liberty
What it is: Another Palantir-backed program mapping “potential threats,” including anti-war groups and protestors. It has been publicly justified as “defending American values from Marxist radicals.”
Why it matters: Turns protest activity and dissent into national security red flags, criminalizing constitutionally protected free speech.
Whistleblower leaks reveal some surveillance criteria include attending Black Lives Matter protests, supporting abortion rights, or subscribing to “radical” newsletters like The Nation.
Expanded Urban Surveillance
What it is: Military drones and AI-driven systems now monitor college campuses and public demonstrations under the guise of “urban readiness.”
Why it matters: Normalizes militarized domestic surveillance and blurs the line between civilian policing and defense operations.
Immigration As National Defense
Hegseth’s hawkish stance on immigration goes beyond policy—it reframes immigration entirely as a military threat, blending Christian nationalism with Trump-era xenophobia.
The Key Policies That Affect All Americans
- “Fortress America” Doctrine: This executive initiative (co-authored by Miller) allows military deployment along state borders, treating immigration surges as national security invasions.
- Faith-Based Vetting: Piloting under Hegseth’s directive, the DoD’s immigration unit began testing Christianity-based loyalty filters for refugee applicants, modeled after “counter-extremism” screens used in Iraq.
- Expanded Military ICE Partnerships: Under Hegseth, the DoD now maintains full-time military liaisons within ICE, using National Guard units for mass deportations and surveillance.
- Immigration as Espionage Threat: The 2025 National Security Strategy Report classifies “illegal immigration of unknown ideological actors” as a “Tier 1 Hybrid Threat”—same level as cyberattacks or hostile drones.
- National Guard deportation support has increased 340% from January to July 2025
- Military drills in 9 U.S. states now include “border surge simulations” with live fire scenarios
These domestic frames echo outward. The same moralized logic—security as religious purity—now shapes alliance management and contingency planning abroad.
“Immigration is not just a border issue—it’s a battlefield infiltration.”
Pete Hegseth, Faith & Freedom Coalition Summit, June 2025
Foreign Policy Under Pete Hegseth: Militarizing Christian Nationalism
Pete Hegseth’s ideology doesn’t stop at the U.S. borders and domestic policy. It informs a dangerous and apocalyptic approach to foreign relations—with consequences for allies and adversaries alike. His worldview sees global conflict as a religious destiny, with his approach to foreign affairs reframing U.S. diplomacy as a spiritual battlefield—embedding American political religious extremism into international strategy.
What should be alliances and negotiation is now filtered through the lens of Christian nationalism and militant loyalty, putting all of America’s closest allies at risk.
What we are seeing is not just military overreach—it’s the rise of religious extremism in U.S. politics, influencing global diplomacy.
He Is Using Biblical Rhetoric In Foreign Briefings
In closed-door briefings, Hegseth reportedly referenced “spiritual warfare” and said “the sheep must be protected from the wolves of secularism”. Both diplomats and military observers are deeply alarmed by the language he is using.
Hegseth aggressively reframes diplomacy through the lens of force—suggesting offensive planning even against friendly nations.
“The sheep must be protected from the wolves of secularism”
Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, Foreign Briefings at the Pentagon
Preparations To Invade Allies
Hegseth has been busy with offensive planning even against friendly nations.
The White House has advanced plans to rename the Department of Defense to the Department of War, with officials and President Trump saying the change is ‘coming soon.’ As of early September 2025, the administration has publicly confirmed its intent and is exploring legal pathways
The “Crusade Doctrine” and Offensive Planning
Project “Crusade Doctrine”: A leaked strategic outline from February 2025 revealed internal DoD planning for possible intervention in:
- Canada for “leftist extremism in defense supply chains”
- France and Germany for “diplomatic betrayal of U.S. values”
- Mexico to “secure the Christian corridor of North America”
Greenland & Panama Contingency: Contingency plans have been drafted that could include “invading” Greenland or Panama, though Hegseth refused to confirm or deny such actions directly.
These oblique admissions have alarmed lawmakers of both parties and strained relations with U.S. allies—all while Hegseth evades clear answers about any of these plans, and appears to have an appetite for war.
Aligning With Global Strongmen & Religious Leaders
Hegseth has maintained warm ties with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro, citing both as “examples of godly leadership in the modern world.”
Heritage-Influenced Strategy & Regional Realignment
Hegseth’s foreign posture is explicitly shaped by right-wing think tanks and his Christian ideology.
Regional Posturing in Asia: During a diplomatic trip to the Philippines, Hegseth reaffirmed U.S. military backing—including missile deployment—for allies resisting Chinese dominance in the South China Sea.
Heritage-Influenced Strategy: His 2025 Interim National Defense Strategic Guidance shifts U.S. military priorities from Europe, the Middle East, and Africa toward homeland and Taiwan defense—strongly mirroring Heritage Foundation suggestions.
None of these policies and incidents are isolated controversies—they are deliberate efforts to purify the military of diversity, install ideologically aligned leadership, and blur the line between democracy and religious enforcement.
“Christian nationalism is a grave threat to democracy because it sounds close to what many people believe—but it actively undermines the secular and pluralistic foundations of our government.”
Cathy Young, Center for Inquiry
The Implications For Civil-Military, Church-State, Democracy & Western Allies
Under Pete Hegseth’s leadership the Pentagon is rapidly becoming a tool of Christian authoritarianism.
Under Pete Hegseth’s leadership, the Pentagon is rapidly becoming a tool of Christian authoritarianism, undermining civilian control of the military and replacing expertise and pluralism with loyalty and faith-based tests.
This isn’t just a right-wing leadership style—it’s a slow, deliberate mutation of democratic institutions into tools of MAGA authoritarianism and techno-fascism, reflecting the authoritarianism that is now fully present in America.
Pete Hegseth’s vision for the Department of Defense blurs every critical line that exists in a functional democracy: between military and civilian oversight, between religious belief and state neutrality, between national security and political loyalty, while aggressively attacking everyone’s civil rights and personal freedoms, including free speech.
Under Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense, the Pentagon is rapidly becoming a tool of Christian authoritarianism.
“What’s happening under Hegseth’s Pentagon is textbook erosion of the civilian-military divide, and it’s happening in plain sight.”
Dr. Kori Schake, American Enterprise Institute
Eroding Civilian Oversight Of The Military
The erosion of civilian control of the military is perhaps the most alarming shift under Hegseth’s Pentagon leadership.
Traditionally, the U.S. military has upheld the doctrine of civilian control—one of the bedrocks of a functioning democracy.
When generals and civilian leaders are replaced with loyalists, dissent becomes disobedience, and decision-making shifts from strategic to ideological. This is how democracies fall into military rule, and allies start getting invaded for “religious” reasons.
Undermining Civilian Authority
Hegseth’s increasing autonomy within the Pentagon, bolstered by Trump’s loyalty, has weakened checks and balances. His refusal to answer direct questions from Congress about foreign policy (e.g., invading U.S. allies), firing on civilians, and other reasonable questions is a stunning act of defiance that we have seen repeatedly.
Cult of Personality in Command
Loyalty to Trump, and the dominionism version of Christian values—not the Constitution—have become the central doctrines under Hegseth. Pentagon staff are increasingly chosen not for expertise but for their ideological alignment.
Intentional Intimidation To Silence & Remove Dissenters
The polygraph campaign against “leakers” was an overt intimidation tactic, meant to root out dissent rather than wrongdoing.
“DEI and merit-based leadership aren’t ‘woke’—they’re the reason the U.S. military became the best in the world.”
Lt. General (Ret.) Russel Honoré
Undermining Democratic Norms
Democracy cannot function when dissent is viewed as treason, when elections are dismissed as illegitimate, and when opponents are seen not as rivals—but as enemies.
- His calls for a Civil War:
- “There are irreconcilable differences in this country,” Hegseth has said. “If Trump loses, there will be blood.”
- Open Hostility to Democratic Principles:
- Endorsed gerrymandering as “screwing Democrats,”
- Rejected the idea of female leadership in government or the military.
- Silencing Internal Critics: Hegseth purged staff who objected to Project 2025 alignment, undermining any internal checks.
Right-wing populism is “Americanism” – and then there is everything else: feminism, globalism, Marxism, progressivism. “Americanism” must prevail, or “death” will.
America is under the scourge of leftism. Our situation is bad, very bad. We are in the fight of our lives for the soul of our country,”
Pete Hegseth, American Crusade
More Real-World Examples Of Military-Religious Authoritarianism Leading To Civil Breakdown
- Myanmar – Buddhist nationalists embedded in the military regime led to the genocide of the Rohingya.
- Iran – Religious leaders control national defense, silencing protest and dissent.
- Saudi Arabia – Tribal religious loyalty guides policy, represses gender and media freedom.
Pete Hegseth: Project 2025
As Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth’s Project 2025-aligned agenda turns a blueprint into daily practice—inside policy, personnel, and procurement—making him one of its most consequential operators. Authoritarians need an obedient military that will be loyal to them, not the people.
This is the muscle behind MAGA authoritarianism.
It is a militarized crusade against democracy, not just political opposition.
While much of the public attention has been on the key architects of Project 2025 (Heritage Foundation, Russ Vought, Stephen Miller), Hegseth is the one who is operationalizing the military side of the agenda. He is actively embedding Christian nationalist extremism, anti-democratic enforcement, and loyalty-first leadership into all aspects of the U.S. armed forces while purging it of women, people of colour, and anyone deemed to be “woke”.
If you are still unfamiliar with Project 2025, it is a 900+ page policy blueprint published by the Heritage Foundation outlining a full government takeover plan by the far-right. All of the policies and plans in it are a combination of the classic authoritarian regime playbook, Christian Nationalist theocratic rule, and the tech billionaires’ dystopian plans.
It includes significant purges across all Federal agencies and departments to replace civil service, left-wing, and non-partisan personnel with Trump loyalists and Christian Nationalists, as well as dismantling all independent agencies (including the DOJ, FBI, and EPA). The enforcement of conservative and Christian dominionist social values will be enacted through Federal agencies while eliminating DEI, abortion access, and LGBTQ rights across all Government departments and purging America of immigrants.
Pete Hegseth’s job to turn the military and defense infrastructure into the enforcement arm of this authoritarian vision, both domestically and internationally.
“Hegseth has turned Project 2025 from blueprint to battlefield.”
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson, historian
Hegseth and the Authors of Project 2025
- Kevin Roberts, Heritage CEO – A regular guest on Fox & Friends. He co-hosted 2024 campaign events with Hegseth.
- Stephen Miller – Collaborated on the ICE/military border enforcement plans.
- Russ Vought (OPM Architect & Project 2025 author) – Advised on DoD loyalty frameworks and hiring overhauls.
- Charlie Kirk (Turning Point) – Helped develop military recruiting campaigns targeting conservative Christian youth.
Militarizing The Project 2025 Agenda: What He’s Already Done
“This is the most dangerous fusion of religion, nationalism, and armed force we’ve seen in U.S. history.”
— Rachel Kleinfeld, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Pentagon Purge
- Action: Within weeks of appointment, Hegseth implemented a “trust and morale audit” which required all top DoD officials to sign loyalty pledges to “the Constitution and the Commander in Chief.”
- Impact: Over 70 senior officials were fired or resigned.
Embedding Dominionist Chaplains In Command Structures
- Action: DoD spiritual guidance programs replaced with evangelical-aligned chaplains, all trained by a dominionist organization tied to Ralph Drollinger.
- Impact: Military bases now required to offer “Christian service opportunities” each week.
- Quote: “The military should reflect the Christian character of the nation it defends.” – Pete Hegseth, July 2025 Pentagon Memo
Replaced DEI with “Moral Readiness”
- Action: DEI offices and staff were eliminated at the Pentagon and all branches.
- Replaced With: Patriotism & Character Initiative (PCI), emphasizing religious conviction, family values, and heterosexual “masculine identity.”
Redefined Readiness Standards
- Action: Physical fitness and mental health evaluations deprioritized in favor of “spiritual resilience” and “moral fortitude.”
- Result: Drop in recruitment of women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and non-Christian applicants.
Militarized Enforcement Of Anti-Democratic Policy
- Deployment Planning for Civil Unrest:
The Pentagon under Hegseth has finalized regional readiness plans for military deployment in case of mass protest, including:- Use of the National Guard in a liberal state, even without the state governor’s consent.
- Drone monitoring of college campuses.
- Rapid response drills involving ICE and DHS personnel for protest crackdowns.
- Pentagon Policy Memo (Leaked):
“Peaceful protest in support of un-American values shall be interpreted as a domestic destabilization threat.” - The National Guard is to carry firearms against Americans
The Real Stakes For All Of Us: This Threat Is Bigger Than You Think
Pete Hegseth isn’t just another loud Fox News personality or political appointee. He is the tip of the spear in the Christian Nationalist takeover of the U.S. military and civil society—a symbol of how far the authoritarian right is willing to go to militarize religion, undermine democracy, and silence dissent.
In American Crusade, Hegseth writes that he believes the US faces a moment of “irreconcilable differences between the Left and the Right in America leading to perpetual conflict that cannot be resolved through the political process”.
What makes Hegseth so dangerous is that his ideology doesn’t just sit on a bookshelf or behind a paywalled Substack—it’s actively being implemented through Pentagon policies, military culture, and national security doctrine. His presence at the helm of U.S. defense isn’t just inappropriate—it’s a threat to every American who values religious freedom, civilian control of the military, and the constitutional separation of church and state.
Pete Hegseth, as the Secretary of Defense, means:
- The normalization of religious extremism in government.
- The dismantling of nonpartisan institutions like the military.
- The increasing use of faith, nationalism, and misinformation to silence dissent and consolidate power.
Pete Hegseth Poses A Threat To All Of Us
Whether you do or don’t agree with progressive politics or left-leaning causes, this still affects you. Authoritarian regimes and religious extremists never stop at their political enemies. They turn on anyone who fails to fall in line with their exact ideologies.
Before commencing his role as Defense Secretary, Hegseth had proposed upending the military establishment and purging members of the “general-class” who support diversity and inclusion principles: “The next president of the United States needs to fire them all – or at least most of them – and install leaders with real fidelity to the Constitution,” Hegseth writes in War on Warriors.
The proposal to purge the military of officers he deems too liberal reflects Trump’s campaign mantra of targeting “enemies within” the state.
The project of sweeping out the general staff…That’s what you do in a coup.”
Jeff Sharlet, an expert in Christian fundamentalism and the far right.
How Hegseth’s controversial religious views could affect military leadership
If you are active duty military or national guard and you are being ordered to violate the Consitutional Rights of the United States citizens immediately call the GI Rights Hotline 877-447-4487 GIRightsHotline.org
10 Things You Can Do Right Now
You don’t have to be in the military—or in politics—to push back. Here are 10 practical actions you can take today to resist Pete Hegseth’s authoritarian influence and the Christian nationalist takeover he represents:
1. Name and Shame – Start by naming Pete Hegseth directly in your conversations, social media posts, and letters to the editor. Most people don’t realize he’s the one making these changes behind the scenes.
2. Demand Media Coverage – Call or write to outlets like NPR, CNN, MSNBC, PBS, The New York Times, and your local paper, demanding more coverage of Hegseth’s actions and Christian nationalism in the military.
3. Share Posts Like This One – Use your platform—even if it’s just your personal Instagram or Facebook—to share information from trustworthy sources that expose what’s really going on.
4. Contact Your Representatives – Tell your members of Congress that you want:
- Investigations into extremist ideology in the military.
- Oversight hearings on Christian nationalism in defense leadership.
- Full enforcement of church-state separation policies.
5. Support The Watchdog Groups – Donate to or amplify groups tracking religious extremism and government overreach:
- Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)
- Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)
- Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC)
- VoteVets
- Interfaith Alliance
6. Educate Friends & Family – Send them articles, podcast episodes, and YouTube videos explaining why Christian nationalism is not only un-American—it’s dangerous.
7. Write Op-Eds and Blog Posts – If you have a platform, use it. Make this issue visible in your local community. Hegseth thrives in the shadows—sunlight is his enemy.
8. Support The Whistleblowers – Signal boost military members or public servants who speak out about the erosion of democratic norms or religious pluralism. Give them visibility and backup.
9. Push Back At Churches & Schools – If you see Christian nationalist rhetoric showing up in schools or churches, speak out. Organize alternative events, challenge speakers, and contact school boards and church leadership.
10. Use Art, Satire & Memes – Mockery is a powerful tool. Make Hegseth’s extremism embarrassing—not aspirational. Help discredit the brand he’s trying to build by making it uncool, outdated, and out of touch.
FAQ’s About Pete Hegseth
Is Pete Hegseth the Secretary of Defense in 2025?
Yes. In Trump’s second term, Pete Hegseth was appointed Secretary of Defense and directs U.S. military policy, culture, and strategy.
What changes has he made to Pentagon culture?
Within weeks, the Pentagon dismantled DEI, introduced “spiritual readiness” metrics, and expanded chaplain authority—steps critics say install a faith-based military policy.
Why do observers warn about civilian control of the military?
Because religious tests and loyalty demands risk displacing nonpartisan expertise and oversight, undermining civilian control of the military. We know from history that a religious military is very dangerous.
How does Project 2025 fit in?
Analysts say Pete Hegseth’s Project 2025 alignment is operational: staffing, training, and tech procurement reflect the blueprint’s goals.
Learn More About Christian Nationalism In America
- Why Christians Think They Should Rule America
- Pete Hegseth And The Christian Takeover Of The Pentagon
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Gemma Lawrence is the creator of This Brits Life. Born and raised in England, she has been living in British Columbia, Canada as a permanent resident since 2016. A solo traveler for the past 9 years, she hopes to inspire and help others to enjoy solo adventures too. As someone who has always struggled with her self-confidence and mental health, she also shares tips and inspirational stories relating to self-love, self-care, and mental health.
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