U.S. Defense Secretary Faces Backlash for Supporting Clerics’ Comments on Revoking Women’s Voting Rights

Melbourne, August 11— U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is facing criticism after reposting a controversial video on social media platform X, in which Christian nationalist pastors argue that women should no longer have the right to vote.

The video, which Hegseth shared Thursday night, shows several pastors from Christian nationalist churches expressing the view that women should not be allowed to vote. The post reveals Hegseth’s close ties with a pastor who holds extreme views on religion and the role of women.

Hegseth’s post included a nearly seven-minute-long report by CNN, which highlighted the activities of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) and its co-founder, Pastor Doug Wilson. In the video, one pastor from Wilson’s church advocates for repealing women’s suffrage in the U.S. Constitution, while another suggests that in his ideal society, families—not individuals—would cast a collective vote. A female member in the video states that she is obedient to her husband.

By sharing the video, Hegseth commented that Christianity should influence every aspect of life. The post has since received over 12,000 likes and more than 2,000 shares. While some users agreed with the pastors’ views, many expressed concern over the defense secretary promoting Christian nationalist ideology.

Doug Pagitt, executive director of the progressive evangelical group Vote Common Good and a pastor himself, said the views expressed in the video reflect a fringe minority within Christianity. He said he was “deeply disturbed” by Hegseth’s decision to amplify such opinions.

Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell told the Associated Press on Friday that Hegseth is a “proud member of a church affiliated with CREC” and holds Pastor Wilson’s writings and teachings in high regard.

In May, Hegseth invited his personal pastor, Brooks Poteiger, to the Pentagon. During official working hours, Poteiger led the first in a series of Christian prayer services. Several Pentagon staff and military personnel reported receiving the event invitation via official government email.

In CNN’s report, Pastor Wilson stated, “I want this country to be a Christian nation, and I want the world to be a Christian world.”