US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has sparked criticism after quoting words from the film Pulp Fiction while presenting it as a Bible verse during a Pentagon prayer service.
The remarks were delivered during a Pentagon worship session on 15 April, where Hegseth recited what he described as a version of Ezekiel 25:17. However, the wording closely matched the stylised monologue made famous by actor Samuel L. Jackson in Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 film, rather than the actual biblical text.
The speech, referred to as “CSAR 25:17,” was said by Hegseth to be linked to a US military search-and-rescue mission, though reports noted that much of the passage originates from the film rather than scripture.
The incident quickly drew attention online, with critics accusing Hegseth of misrepresenting religious text and blurring the line between faith, politics and pop culture in an official government setting.
A Pentagon spokesperson later said the prayer was inspired by both the Bible and the film, rejecting claims that it was intended to mislead. The episode adds to ongoing scrutiny of Hegseth’s use of religious rhetoric in military contexts.
