Overview of Pete Hegseth's American crusade
This Code Switch episode examines Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s religious worldview, focusing on how his public rhetoric, tattoos, and book American Crusade reflect a form of Christian nationalism that frames modern politics and war as a continuation of the Crusades. With religious scholar Matthew Taylor, the hosts unpack how Hegseth blends American identity, Western civilization, and Christianity into one militant ideology—and why that matters now that he is helping shape U.S. foreign policy.
Main themes
Hegseth’s Christian nationalist worldview
- Hegseth repeatedly presents America as a Christian nation whose destiny is tied to faith, militancy, and “Western civilization.”
- In his book and public comments, he links current political conflicts to a broader struggle between Christians and enemies of the West.
- The episode argues that for Hegseth, American nationalism, Christian nationalism, and Western civilization are essentially the same project.
The Crusades as a model
- Hegseth explicitly invokes the Crusades in American Crusade, calling for a “holy war” for freedom.
- The episode explains the historical Crusades as medieval Christian wars framed as divinely sanctioned violence.
- Matthew Taylor notes that Hegseth’s rhetoric suggests he sees modern conflict through the same lens: a civilizational battle blessed by God.
The significance of Hegseth’s tattoos
- The hosts discuss Hegseth’s tattoos, especially:
- the Jerusalem cross
- Deus Vult (“God wills it”)
- Kafir (Arabic for “unbeliever” or “infidel”)
- Taylor argues these tattoos are not random symbols but part of a coherent identity rooted in crusader imagery.
- The “kafir” tattoo is read as especially provocative, signaling hostility toward Muslims and embracing an “I am your enemy” posture.
Why this matters
Religion and military policy
- The episode connects Hegseth’s beliefs to his role as Secretary of Defense and his influence on military culture and policy.
- It highlights how he has promoted Christian worship at the Pentagon and tied troop morale to faith.
- The concern is that he is bringing a holy-war mindset into institutions meant to serve a pluralistic democracy.
The Iran war and holy-war rhetoric
- Hegseth’s comments on war with Iran are used to illustrate how he mixes military strategy with providential and religious language.
- Taylor warns that framing conflict this way can turn geopolitical disputes into endless civilizational warfare.
- The episode suggests this kind of rhetoric is especially dangerous because it can inflame both Christian nationalism and Islamic extremism, reinforcing cycles of religious conflict.
Key takeaways
- Hegseth’s public language and symbolism are not accidental; they reflect a deliberate crusader identity.
- He blends nationalism, Christianity, anti-left politics, and anti-Muslim sentiment into a single worldview.
- The episode warns that this ideology, when brought into state power, risks normalizing religiously justified violence.
- Taylor emphasizes that introducing holy-war logic into modern foreign policy is destabilizing and potentially tragic.
Notable insight
“When you introduce religion into modern war, you are introducing ideological jet fuel.”
Production note
- The hosts mention that NPR reached out to the Department of Defense for comment but did not hear back before publication.