Hegseth Posts Christian Nationalist Pastor Video Says Women Shouldn’t Vote/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reposted a CNN report featuring pastors from a Christian nationalist church advocating for repealing women’s right to vote. The post drew both support and backlash, highlighting Hegseth’s ties to controversial pastor Doug Wilson and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches. Critics called the move disturbing, warning of its implications for democracy and women’s rights.
Hegseth Women’s Voting Post Quick Looks
- Who: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
- What: Reposted video featuring pastors opposing women’s suffrage.
- When: Thursday night, August 7, 2025.
- Source video: CNN report on Doug Wilson and CREC.
- Controversial views: Repeal women’s right to vote, household voting system.
- Reaction: Mixed — support from some, alarm from others.
- Pentagon statement: Hegseth values Wilson’s writings and teachings.
- Past actions: Hosted Christian prayer services at Pentagon.
Hegseth Shares Christian Nationalist Pastor Video Opposing Women Voting Rights
Deep Look
The nearly seven-minute CNN report focused on Doug Wilson, cofounder of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), and showcased a range of views from pastors in his network. One pastor openly argued that the Constitution should be amended to remove women’s suffrage, while another suggested voting should be organized by households rather than individuals. The video also included a female congregant describing her submission to her husband as part of her faith practice.
Hegseth captioned the repost with, “All of Christ for All of Life,” a phrase closely tied to Wilson’s church and teachings.
Mixed Reactions to the Post
The post quickly went viral, garnering over 12,000 likes and 2,000 shares. Responses ranged from praise by Christian nationalist supporters to outrage from those concerned about the implications of a sitting defense secretary amplifying anti-suffrage rhetoric.
“These are views held by small fringes of Christians,” Pagitt said, calling it “very disturbing” for the nation’s top military leader to elevate them.
Pentagon’s Response and Hegseth’s Religious Ties
Pentagon chief spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed Hegseth is “a proud member” of a church affiliated with CREC and that he “very much appreciates many of Mr. Wilson’s writings and teachings.”
Hegseth’s relationship with his church and its leadership has already been visible in his official role. In May, he invited his personal pastor, Brooks Potteiger, to lead the first of several Christian prayer services at the Pentagon during working hours. Invitations to the event were distributed to Defense Department employees and service members via official government email accounts.
In the CNN piece, Wilson said, “I’d like to see the nation be a Christian nation, and I’d like to see the world be a Christian world.” His church’s positions have often been criticized for promoting a patriarchal and theocratic worldview.
Broader Context and Implications
Hegseth’s repost is the latest in a series of public moves that signal his alignment with Christian nationalist ideals, a movement advocating for laws and policies shaped explicitly by their interpretation of Christian doctrine. The inclusion of explicit opposition to women’s suffrage in the shared video has amplified concerns from civil rights advocates who see it as a step toward undermining democratic equality.
While some supporters frame the call for “household voting” as a return to traditional values, critics argue it strips women of political agency and undermines the principles of representative democracy. The issue has drawn renewed attention to the intersection of religious beliefs, political leadership, and policymaking at the highest levels of government.
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