WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon on Wednesday, in what appeared to be a first for a Pentagon chief and something he said would become a monthly occurrence.
Hegseth has made talking about his Christian faith a part of his daily life at the Pentagon, and he has brought it up in testimony to Congress, in public events and even in television interviews.
While the U.S. military is predominantly Christian, it has many troops of other faiths as well as those who are not religious. Non-denominational prayer services are routine at military events.
Wednesday’s event, “Secretary of Defense Christian Prayer & Worship Service,” was broadcast on the Pentagon’s internal television network and can be seen here.
“This is something we plan to do on a monthly basis, on a voluntary basis, here in the auditorium. I hope you’ll let those you work with know about it. We’re grateful that you joined us here,” Hegseth said.
Hegseth’s pastor, Brooks Potteiger, also spoke, and prayed for President Donald Trump.
“Thank you for the way that you have used him to bring stability and moral clarity to our land, and we pray that you would continue to protect him,” Potteiger said.
Hegseth frequently invokes his faith, saying during a Fox News interview on Tuesday: “Without my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, I don’t have a shot.”
(Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali; Editing by Don Durfee and David Gregorio)
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