The Pentagon found itself at the center of controversy this week after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared a video on social media featuring prominent religious leaders advocating for the repeal of the 19th Amendment, which guarantees women the right to vote. The incident, which unfolded on August 14, 2025, sparked an immediate and heated debate over the intersection of personal beliefs, official policy, and the role of women in both the military and American society at large.
Hegseth, known for his outspoken Christian views and his affiliation with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), reposted a segment from CNN in which Pastor Douglas Wilson—a self-described Christian nationalist—along with other pastors, voiced support for returning to a system where votes are cast by men as heads of households. The video included Wilson’s assertion that he would back repealing the 19th Amendment, with another pastor, Jared Longshore, telling CNN, “I would support that. And I’d support it on the basis that the atomization that comes from our current system is not good for humans.” Hegseth captioned his post, “All of Christ for All of Life.”
The uproar was swift. Journalists pressed the Pentagon for clarification on Hegseth’s stance, especially given the secretary’s history of controversial statements about women’s roles in the military. When asked directly whether Hegseth believed women should have the right to vote, Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson responded pointedly, “Of course, the secretary thinks that women should have the right to vote. That’s a stupid question.” According to CNN, Wilson further emphasized that Hegseth “very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson’s writings and teachings,” but refused to “litigate every single aspect of what he may or may not believe in a certain video.”
The video in question didn’t stop at voting rights. It also featured Douglas Wilson advocating for the United States to become a Christian nation, supporting the criminalization of gay sex, and making the inflammatory claim that there was “genuine affection” between slaves and their owners. When pressed about which of these views Hegseth might share, Kingsley Wilson declined to elaborate, telling reporters, “He appreciates many of [Douglas Wilson’s] writings and teachings. I’m not going to litigate every single aspect of what he may or may not believe in a certain video.” (The Washington Examiner)
Hegseth’s ties to the CREC run deep. He is a member of a Tennessee church affiliated with the denomination, which was founded by Pastor Doug Wilson. The CREC’s governing documents state that “it is neither lawful nor honorable for women to be mustered for combat service,” and that “the duty of men—not women—is to protect their homelands and nations.” Hegseth has previously echoed these sentiments, arguing against women serving in combat roles in the military. However, he has since softened his position, expressing respect for women who serve and insisting his primary concern is with maintaining standards. As reported by CNN, Hegseth has said he supports all women who serve, shifting his focus away from gender and toward performance criteria.
The controversy over Hegseth’s social media activity comes at a time when the Defense Department faces criticism for its handling of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Hegseth has been vocal about his opposition to what he calls “woke” policies in the military, declaring that generals and admirals involved in DEI initiatives “have got to go.” According to The Daily Beast, his tenure has coincided with high-profile removals of senior women leaders, including Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, the first woman to lead the U.S. Naval Academy, Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield from her NATO billet, and Adm. Linda Fagan—history’s first female service chief—from the Coast Guard.
Hegseth’s religious convictions have become increasingly visible in his official capacity. On August 14, 2025, he hosted a Christian prayer service at the Pentagon, led by his pastor from Tennessee, Brooks Potteiger of Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship. During the service, Potteiger prayed for President Donald Trump and other leaders “sovereignly appointed,” thanking God for “the way that you have used him to bring stability and moral clarity to our lands.” Pastor Douglas Wilson, speaking to CNN, said it was “very encouraging” to see Hegseth “own what he believes,” especially in relation to purging DEI programs and “woke” policies from the Defense Department. “It’s not organizationally tied to us, but it’s the kind of thing we love to see,” Wilson remarked.
The Pentagon’s attempts to clarify Hegseth’s position have done little to quell the public debate. When asked if Hegseth would heed calls from Democrats to apologize or resign, Kingsley Wilson was unequivocal: “Absolutely not.” The press secretary’s combative tone during the briefing—at one point calling a reporter’s question “stupid”—underscored the administration’s refusal to distance itself from the controversial video or its broader implications.
Outside the Pentagon, political figures weighed in. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned on social media that Hegseth’s actions signaled a broader assault on women’s rights. She wrote, “You know how people called women hysterical for predicting the right wing would take down Roe v. Wade (which they’ve done) and then attack access to birth control (which they’re doing)? Hear me when I say that women’s very right to vote is next.”
Despite the furor, Pentagon officials insisted that the controversy would not impact women’s participation in the military. At the press conference, Kingsley Wilson reported a surge in female enlistment, stating that more than 7,200 additional women had enlisted so far in fiscal year 2025 compared to the same point last year, rising from 16,700 to nearly 24,000 enlistees. “We do not anticipate that recruitment will drop,” Wilson said. “Everything we are seeing indicates that it is going to continue to break records and to skyrocket, and that’s for men and women across all of the branches.” (Washington Examiner)
As the dust settles, the episode has reignited longstanding debates about the separation of church and state, the influence of religious ideology on public policy, and the ongoing fight for gender equality in both civic life and the military. The Pentagon’s insistence that Hegseth supports women’s right to vote stands in stark contrast to the messaging of the video he promoted and the church network he celebrates. For many Americans, the controversy serves as a reminder that the battle over women’s rights—far from being a settled matter—remains very much alive in the highest corridors of power.
