More than two dozen Democratic members of Congress are requesting an internal investigation at the Department of Defense regarding claims from uniformed officers that commanders have painted the current war in Iran as one rooted in Christian biblical prophecy.
A complaint shared by an anonymous non-commissioned officer to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) claimed that non-commissioned officers were told that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,” as originally reported by journalist Jonathan Larsen. Between Saturday and Tuesday afternoon, MRFF logged more than 200 similar complaints across 50 installations encompassing every branch of the military, its founder, Mikey Weinstein, told Military.com.
The accusations, which received no direct response from the Pentagon when inquired by Military.com, have drawn widespread attention—in part due to the Pentagon’s open embrace of Christianity through monthly prayer services in addition to appearances and speaking engagements by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at Christian-themed events. MRFF is composed roughly of 95% Christians.
On Friday, Congressional Freethought Caucus co-chairs Reps. Jared Huffman (CA) and Jamie Raskin (MD) and House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Ranking Member Chrissy Houlahan (PA) led 27 of their Democratic colleagues in requesting U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General Platte B. Moring III to open an investigation into these reports and claims “invoking religious prophecy and apocalyptic theology to justify the United States’ military actions in Iran.”
“If accurate, these outrageous statements—justifying a war based on interpretations of biblical prophecies, and informing troops that they are risking their lives to advance a specific religious vision—raises not only glaring Constitutional concerns, but potential violations of Department of Defense regulations regarding religious neutrality and breaches of professional obligations and standards expected of military leadership,” the lawmakers wrote in their two-page letter shared with Military.com.
Members of the United States Armed Forces swear an oath to support and defend our secular Constitution—not any specific religious doctrines—and servicemembers must be able to carry out their duties free from coercive religious messaging by their chain of command.
A caucus spokesperson deferred requests by Military.com for additional remarks to the letter itself. Military.com reached out to the DOD inspector general for comment.
The letter was signed by moderate and progressive Democratic members including Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Mark Pocan, Eric Swalwell, Veronica Escobar and Pramila Jayapal.
Complaint In Question
The complaint in question that drew widespread attention earlier this week came from an individual who identified themselves as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in a unit currently outside the Iran combat zone but who could be deployed at any time to help facilitate the mission in Iran dubbed Operation Epic Fury.
That complainant is also a self-described Christian who emailed MRFF on behalf of 15 troops that included at least 11 Christians, one Muslim, and one Jew.
“He 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 wrote in the email. “He said that ‘President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.’"
Democrats Wants Answers
Democrats are inquiring whether these latest allegations “are part of a broader political climate in which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and senior civilian officials have publicly framed Middle East policy in explicitly religious terms.”
“Public statements by administration officials and allies invoking biblical claims about Israel and the region—along with rhetoric suggesting a prophetic or religious dimension to geopolitical conflicts—risks emboldening similar messaging within military ranks,” the letter’s signees said.
We urge you to assess whether Secretary Hegseth’s extreme religious rhetoric has metastasized into segments of the military chain of command in ways that contravene constitutional protections, departmental rules and standards, or professional military norms.
They requested that the following six inquiries be investigated:
Whether military commanders or other officers have made statements to subordinates asserting that U.S. military operations against Iran are part of a religious prophecy, divine plan, or apocalyptic religious event, and if so, where such communications originated within the chain of command.
Whether any such statements constitute violations of Department of Defense policies, including DoD Instruction 1300.17 “Religious Liberty in the Military Services,” regarding religious neutrality, improper proselytizing, or abuse of command authority.
The scope and geographic distribution of complaints received within the Department of Defense regarding religiously framed messaging related to the Iran conflict.
Whether servicemembers who reported these concerns experienced retaliation or fear of retaliation within their units.
What training, guidance, or oversight currently exists to ensure commanders maintain religious neutrality in operational briefings, command communications, and other official settings.
Whether additional guidance or action is warranted to ensure that persona.
