In a jaw-dropping gaffe, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth quoted a fake Bible verse straight out of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction during a Pentagon worship service this week. Instead of delivering an actual scripture, Hegseth recited Samuel L. Jackson’s iconic—but entirely fictional—monologue falsely attributed to Ezekiel 25:17.
Epic Flub at Pentagon Prayer Session
The quote, memorably delivered by Jackson’s hitman character before a violent showdown, goes:
“The path of the downed aviator is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of camaraderie and duty, shepherd the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother. And you will know my call sign is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”
Ouch. Not only is it not from the Bible, but the film itself also makes clear that the quote should never be used to justify violence.
Trump Era Christianity? A Hollywood Script
This latest misstep fits into a bizarre pattern from the Trump administration’s handling of faith. From doctored AI images of Trump with Jesus, to backlash against the Pope for calling out war, now comes this Pentagon goof. If relying on a Tarantino script as a spiritual guide is the new norm, maybe they’re not the crowd America wants in charge.
The Audience Probably Didn’t Notice
Fortunately for Hegseth, the Pentagon congregation likely had no idea it was a Hollywood quote, not scripture. Would he care if they did? Probably not. These officials often skate through controversies unscathed.
