The US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has faced criticism for reposting a video that suggests women should no longer be allowed to vote. The video features several pastors, including Doug Wilson, a Christian nationalist who co-founded the Idaho-based Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC).
In the video, Wilson says, “I would like to see this nation being a Christian nation, and I would like this world to be a Christian world.” Another pastor, Toby Sumpter, adds, “In my ideal society, we would vote as households. I would ordinarily be the one to cast the vote, but I would cast the vote having discussed it with my household.”
A congregant interviewed for the segment remarks that she considers her husband as the head of their household and says, “I do submit to him.” Hegseth reposted the nearly seven-minute report with the caption: “All of Christ for All of Life.” Later in the video, Wilson says he does not believe women should hold leadership positions in the military or be able to fill high-profile combat roles.
A progressive evangelical organization, Vote Common Good, has expressed concern over Hegseth’s actions. Doug Pagitt, a pastor and the executive director of the organization, said the ideas in the video are views that “small fringes of Christians keep” and found it “very disturbing” that Hegseth would amplify them.
Hegseth’s repost comes as the Trump administration ramps up efforts to promote Christian nationalism. The push follows Donald Trump’s renewed alliance with the Christian right in his second presidential term, which has included an executive order creating a federal taskforce to investigate what he calls “anti-Christian bias” in government agencies.
The US Constitution’s first amendment prohibits the government from establishing a state religion. However, the precise definition of “establishment” in that context has been unclear, especially with the constitution also protecting all citizens’ right to practice their religion generally as they please.
Hegseth’s actions have raised concerns about the separation of church and state. In May, he invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead a Christian prayer service, which was attended by defense department employees and service members.
A Pentagon spokesperson said Hegseth “is a proud member of a church affiliated with” the CREC and that he “very much appreciates many of Mr Wilson’s writings and teachings.” The spokesperson’s statement has done little to alleviate concerns about Hegseth’s views and their potential impact on the military and government.