On August 7, 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ignited a firestorm of public outrage after reposting a CNN segment on X that featured controversial Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson. The video, nearly seven minutes long, showcased Wilson—co-founder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC)—and other pastors openly advocating for the repeal of women’s right to vote and the return of laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. The repost, captioned with Hegseth’s phrase, "All of Christ for All of Life," immediately drew sharp criticism from across the political and religious spectrum, with many questioning the Secretary’s judgment and the implications for American democracy.
The CNN segment highlighted Wilson’s vision for a “Christian nation,” one in which traditional gender roles are strictly enforced. "I would like to see this nation being a Christian nation, and I would like this world to be a Christian world," Wilson declared in the video, as reported by CNN. He reminisced about an America where, in his words, "in the late 70s and early 80s, sodomy was a felony in all 50 states," and lamented the Supreme Court’s 2003 decision in Lawrence v. Texas that invalidated such laws. Wilson further argued that some American slave owners were "decent human beings" and insisted that women should primarily focus on raising children. "Women are the kind of people that people come out of," he said, reinforcing his belief that motherhood and submission are women’s chief roles.
The video also included other CREC pastors who went as far as to propose a return to household voting, with the husband casting the ballot after consulting his family. One pastor explained, "In my ideal society, we would vote as households," suggesting that the repeal of the 19th Amendment—which guarantees women the right to vote—would be a positive step. A female congregant featured in the segment expressed her commitment to submitting to her husband, underscoring the patriarchal ethos that permeates Wilson’s church.
Hegseth’s repost did not go unnoticed. Within hours, it had garnered over 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares on X, sparking a deluge of responses. Some users supported the pastors’ views, but a far larger contingent expressed alarm at the Defense Secretary’s amplification of such extreme positions. One user, whose comment was liked over 12,000 times, wrote, “Not sure about you, but drunken hack Pete Hegseth endorsing Christian nationalist pastors claiming women should no longer be allowed to vote—doesn’t sit well with me.” Another commenter asked pointedly, “But what happens when your husband is a cheating drunk who left his first wife for his second wife but then got his mistress pregnant and then divorced the second wife to marry the third wife? Like at what point are you no longer qualified to lead the head of the household?”
The backlash quickly spread beyond social media. New Mexico Representative Melanie Stanley expressed disbelief, stating, “Just to be clear, this is the U.S. Secretary of Defense—who multiple women voted to confirm—sharing content advocating for women to not vote. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. This is why we must organize and stay in the fight!”
Journalist Gretchen Carlson also weighed in, highlighting Hegseth’s personal ties to the CREC. "The 'Christian' church just featured on @CNN where men think 19th amendment should be repealed & women should not have the right to vote. Oh, & they’re also not equal. This is the church Secy of defense Pete Hegseth goes to. As a Christian, this is disgusting. Wake up, America." According to CNN, Hegseth and his family attended the CREC church’s inaugural service in Washington just a month prior, further cementing the connection.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation was quick to condemn Hegseth’s actions, calling his promotion of Doug Wilson "a rallying cry for theocracy." Their statement, as reported by The Economic Times, warned, "Pete Hegseth promoting Doug Wilson, a Christian nationalist who openly calls for a biblical takeover of America, is a warning sign. The U.S. is a secular nation. We will fight to keep it that way." International voices joined the chorus, with retired Australian politician Doug Cameron criticizing Hegseth’s views as "dangerous and medieval," and questioning why American allies should accept such rhetoric from a senior U.S. official.
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed to the Associated Press that Hegseth is "a proud member of a church" affiliated with the CREC and "very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson's writings and teachings." Parnell also noted that, earlier in May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to the Pentagon to lead the first of several Christian prayer services during working hours, with invitations sent to Defense Department employees and service members through government email.
For Hegseth, the controversy is not his first brush with public scrutiny. He has openly acknowledged being a "serial cheater" in past relationships and, as reported by multiple outlets, reached a cash settlement with a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017. However, Hegseth now claims to have "turned over a new leaf" thanks to his current wife and renewed Christian faith.
The uproar over Hegseth’s repost comes at a time when the Trump administration is ramping up efforts to promote Christian nationalism, a trend that has alarmed both secular advocacy groups and many religious leaders. Doug Pagitt, pastor and executive director of the progressive evangelical organization Vote Common Good, told the Associated Press that the views promoted in the video are "very disturbing" and represent "small fringes of Christians." Yet, the elevation of such ideas by a sitting Defense Secretary has sparked deeper concerns about the separation of church and state and the future of women’s rights in America.
Former GOP Representative Barbara Comstock and journalist James Surowiecki were among the conservatives who criticized Hegseth’s actions. Comstock remarked, "Not unnoticed that @petehegseth, the most unqualified and insecure SecDef, has retweeted this piece that includes extremist men advocating that the right to vote be taken away from women and women must submit to men (apparently even if they are cheaters?) This is the Hegseth worldview." Bill Kristol, director of Defending Democracy Together, invoked Abraham Lincoln, quipping, “When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”
As the debate rages on, the repost has become a flashpoint in the broader struggle over religious influence, gender equality, and democratic norms in the United States. With prominent officials and everyday Americans alike weighing in, the controversy shows little sign of abating. The episode has left many wondering just how far the boundaries of church and state—and the rights of women—might be tested in the years ahead.