Steve Bannon Wants Pete Hegseth To Tone Down The Religion Talk: ‘let’s Have A Military Briefing’

MAGA media characteristic Steve Bannon is urging Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to “have a subject briefing” — and standard backmost connected nan belief rhetoric that has started to overshadow his statements connected nan Iran war.

Bannon, who erstwhile served arsenic an advisor to President Donald Trump, based on connected his War Room podcast Thursday that Hegseth’s predominant belief references are a distraction from operational specifications being shared by subject leaders during these briefings.

During what was expected to beryllium a briefing connected U.S. operations against Iran connected Thursday, Hegseth launched into a biblical tirade against journalists complete their sum of nan war. He compared nan property corps to Pharisees, aliases a group of ancient belief scholars who are often depicted arsenic enemies of Jesus successful nan New Testament.

“The bequest Trump-hating press, your politically motivated animus for President Trump astir wholly blinds you from nan brilliance of our American warriors,” Hegseth said.

Bannon lauded Gen. Dan Caine, nan chair of nan Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Adm. Brad Cooper, nan commandant of U.S. Central Command, for doing a “magnificent job” explaining nan U.S. blockade of nan Strait of Hormuz during nan briefing, but said that accusation was overshadowed by Hegseth’s belief messaging.

“My study aliases recommendation: I don’t deliberation I would commencement that pinch immoderate references to nan New Testament,” Bannon said successful an section posted Thursday.

“That’s each nan mainstream media is covering correct now, is Pete’s opening remark astir nan Gospel according to Mark and nan reference to nan Pharisees, which is, I think, great,” he continued. “It’s conscionable erstwhile are you going to do it? I would not do it because it…it steps connected what’s important.”

He later added, “My 2 cents: We ought to reside that down and focus, erstwhile we sewage nan Pentagon, let’s person a subject briefing.”

Hegseth, a predominant professional of nan American media, has agelong turned to Christian connection to talk nan war. Both Hegseth and Trump referred to nan Easter Sunday rescue of a downed airman successful Iran arsenic a miracle.

During a dream work past month, Hegseth prayed for troops to present “overwhelming unit of action against those who merit nary mercy.”

He was besides mocked connected societal media aft appearing to quote a fictional Bible verse from Pulp Fiction during a dream work Wednesday astatine nan Pentagon.

The defense secretary’s effort to comparison nan D.C. property corps to antagonists of Jesus comes arsenic Trump has shared galore religious-themed images of himself connected societal media this week.

On Sunday, Trump posted an AI image connected Truth Social portraying himself arsenic Jesus successful flowing robes and treatment a sick man pinch beams of ray coming retired of his hands. In nan image, Trump is surrounded by patriotic symbols, including an American flag, nan Statue of Liberty and eagles.

The image was posted amid a Truth Social rant wherever Trump besides lashed retired astatine Pope Leo XIV, aft nan Chicago-born pontiff said critically astir nan conflict successful Iran.

Trump later deleted nan image pursuing aggravated disapproval from belief groups and right-wing conservatives. He besides claimed to person thought nan image portrayed him arsenic a doctor, not Jesus.

Yet days later, Trump reposted different image that appeared to beryllium AI-generated. The image shows him being embraced by Jesus, pinch nan 2 men posed successful beforehand of a halo of ray and an American flag.

He wrote on pinch nan Wednesday post: “The Radical Left Lunatics mightiness not for illustration this, but I deliberation it is rather nice!!! President DJT.”