US military commanders have been accused of invoking extremist Christian rhetoric about biblical “end times” to justify involvement in the Iran war, according to complaints made to a watchdog group. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) says it has received more than 200 complaints from service members across all branches of the armed forces.
Key Takeaways
US military commanders have been accused of using extremist Christian rhetoric to justify involvement in the Iran war. Over 200 complaints from service members were filed with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).
- MRFF received over 200 complaints from troops across all branches.
- A commander allegedly told troops that President Trump was 'anointed by Jesus' to start Armageddon in Iran.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has embraced Christian nationalism, endorsing the doctrine of 'sphere sovereignty'.
- The Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment but shared clips of Hegseth discussing the operation in Iran.
One complainant, identified as a noncommissioned officer (NCO) in a unit that could be deployed to join operations against Iran, told MRFF that their commander had “urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God’s divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ”.
The NCO’s complaint was filed on behalf of 15 troops, including Christians, a Muslim person, and a Jewish person. The commander allegedly stated that 'President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth'.
Mikey Weinstein, MRFF’s president and an air force veteran, suggested the reports indicate an increase in Christian extremism in the military. He noted that the complainants 'report the unrestricted euphoria of their commanders' who perceive a 'biblically-sanctioned' war that is clearly the undeniable sign of the expeditious approach of the fundamentalist Christian ‘End Times’.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, known for his embrace of Christian nationalism, previously endorsed the doctrine of “sphere sovereignty,” a worldview derived from extremist beliefs. In August 2025, Hegseth reposted a CNN segment on X focusing on pastor Doug Wilson, who does not believe women should hold leadership positions in the military or be able to fill high-profile combat roles.
The Pentagon did not reply to requests for comment but shared public clips of Hegseth discussing the operation in Iran.
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