A Congressional candidate has called for an investigation into Pete Hegseth after the Department of Defense head invited a Christian nationalist to the department.
Pastor Doug Wilson, who believes women should not be allowed to vote, led a worship service at the Pentagon after being invited by Hegseth to do so, the Washington Post reported. Catholic writers and political hopefuls have called out Hegseth for inviting the divisive figure into the Pentagon to deliver a worship service.
Speaking to military personnel gathered at the Pentagon, Wilson told attendees that "stranger things had happened" than a sermon in the Pentagon. He added, "God can do what he likes — and as we should know by now, what He likes to do is to take the most unlikely materials and do something glorious with it."
Fred Wellman, a West Point graduate and 20-year Army veteran running for Congress from Missouri, called Wilson’s appearance this week an “unconstitutional and extreme attack” on the First Amendment.
Taking to X to criticize the decision to invite Wilson, Wellman wrote, "Hegseth is using his official position to make his religion the official one of the Department of Defense using official facilities, communications channels and personnel. This must end and be investigated."
Catholic writer and Democratic operative Christopher Hale also took to social media to criticize Wilson's appearance. He wrote, "Doug Wilson routinely mocks the pope and the Catholic Church.
"It’s beyond shameful that [Hegseth] allowed him to lead taxpayer-funded anti-Catholic worship services."
Pentagon spokeswoman Kingsley Wilson has since defended Wilson's sermon to Pentagon officials. She said of the visit, "Secretary Hegseth, along with millions of Americans, is a proud Christian and was glad to welcome Pastor Wilson to the Pentagon yesterday.
"Despite the Left’s efforts to remove our Christian heritage from our great nation. Secretary Hegseth is among those who embrace it."