Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth defended Wednesday’s Christian prayer service at the Pentagon as a “long-standing tradition” within the United States armed forces.
“Appealing to Heaven, to God, is a long-standing tradition in our military,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. “George Washington was on bended knee with the troops praying for God’s providence and protection in that moment.”
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Wednesday’s prayer service was held in the Pentagon’s auditorium and broadcast live via the Defense Department’s internal TV network, according to a report.
Reporter: You received some criticism for hosting a prayer service at the Pentagon@SecDef "We said it very publicly, we said it very proudly. Appealing to Heaven, to God, is a long-standing tradition in our military.
— DOD Rapid Response (@DODResponse) May 23, 2025
I appeal to Jesus Christ for that protection. We're gonna… pic.twitter.com/cPLCo0ld8S
Hegseth said that these services will be conducted on a monthly and voluntary basis.
“Chaplins and ministers and Christians and people of faith across generations have prayed because of the business that we’re in,” Hegseth said Thursday. “The business of the 82nd Airborne, when you watch that 911 button for the country, is a dangerous one on behalf of all of us.”
“We appeal to God. I appeal to Jesus Christ for that protection. We’re gonna speak that, and we’re gonna be open and willing to talk about that at the Pentagon.”
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Critics have called the new Christian prayer service unusual.
“If they want to criticize that, they’re on the wrong side of a very important issue,” Hegseth said.