Hegseth recites 'Pulp Fiction' speech at Pentagon prayer service

Key Points:

• Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth led a Pentagon prayer meeting using a fictional verse from Quentin Tarantino’s film "Pulp Fiction," adapting a violent monologue originally delivered by Samuel L. Jackson’s character to frame the war in Iran as divine justice.
• Hegseth claimed the prayer, known as "CSAR 25:17," is used by combat search-and-rescue crews and is inspired by Ezekiel 25:17 from the Bible, though the film’s monologue is largely a screenwriter’s creation with only loose biblical ties.
• Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended Hegseth, calling accusations of misquoting scripture "fake news," while "Pulp Fiction" co-writer Roger Avary expressed support for the use of the quote if it protects soldiers.
• Critics inside the Pentagon say Hegseth’s prayer sessions, which often call for violence in the Iran conflict, create implied pressure to attend and distract from mission-critical work, potentially hindering wartime decision-making.
• The prayer and related rhetoric come amid tensions between the Trump administration and Pope Leo XIV, who condemned the use of religion to justify war, prompting sharp rebukes from President Trump.