Recently, his foundation documented an increase in religious freedom violations in the military. He said some of his clients have flagged as examples the DOW’s “evangelization efforts” through events like the lunch break “Christian prayer and worship service” convened by Hegseth’s office in the Pentagon auditorium earlier this year.
The department’s rebranding and its embrace of Christian references on social media could lead to an escalation of conflicts, Weinstein said.
“This is nothing more than a fast-ticking time bomb that will blow up in our faces,” said Weinstein, who served 11 years in the Air Force. “… It is encouraging a tremendous response by our enemies who are out there, many of whom follow their own extremist religious views.”
The DOW also seems to have adopted a Christian Crusader aesthetic, aligning itself with Hegseth’s declarations, Weinstein added. The defense secretary is known for his Crusader cross tattoo on his chest. The Crusaders’ battle cry, “Deus Vult” (“God wills” in Latin), has long entertained an idea of Western Christianity clashing with non-Christian civilizations. And in a March 25 X post, Hegseth showed a bicep tattoo that reads “kafir,” meaning “unfaithful” in Arabic.
On his own X account, Hegseth, who served as an infantry officer in the Army National Guard and was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, also has numerous posts that promote military operations alongside religious discourse. On Aug. 17, he posted a video of himself reciting a “commander’s prayer,” asking God for protection, wisdom and courage on the battlefield.
“When time and task pull in different directions, grant me clarity to see the way and peace to calm those around me,” Hegseth can be heard saying in the clip, liked 21,000 times.
This article originally appeared here.
