US defense chief recites fake Bible verse during Pentagon prayer service

Washington (MNTV) — Pete Hegseth sparked widespread criticism after reciting a fictional Bible passage taken from the film Pulp Fiction during an official prayer service at the Pentagon, underscoring what critics see as the unserious posture of US leadership amid escalating conflicts in the Middle East.

During the service, Hegseth invited attendees to pray following remarks about a recent military operation linked to a downed pilot in Iran. He introduced the recitation as a supposed scriptural reference, labeling it “CSAR 25:16,” an apparent attempt to mimic a verse from the Bible’s Book of Ezekiel.

What followed, however, was not a religious text but a modified version of a monologue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in Pulp Fiction, a scene associated with gang violence and execution rather than prayer.

The passage included dramatic language about vengeance and destruction, entirely inconsistent with the actual biblical verse it was meant to represent.

The authentic Ezekiel 25:17 contains a far shorter and more restrained message, lacking the embellished and cinematic phrasing recited by the US defense chief.

The episode has drawn ridicule and concern, particularly as it comes at a time when Washington continues to back Israeli military actions and expand its own confrontational posture in the region.

Critics argue the incident reflects a broader pattern of performative militarism and ideological posturing, where symbolism and theatrics overshadow accountability and seriousness in matters of war and peace.

The Pentagon has not clarified whether Hegseth knowingly used a fictional quote or mistakenly presented it as scripture, leaving further questions about judgment at the highest levels of the US defense establishment.