Photo 3 of 5: U.S. Navy Cmdr. Abuhena Saifulislam, U.S. Africa Command deputy command chaplain, leads the prayer at the Mogadishu International Airport, Mogadishu, Somalia, June 5, 2017. This was the first Iftar held between U.S. and Somali National Army military personnel. Additionally, it was the

Photo: U.S. Air Force Photo by Staff Sgt. Eboni Prince/Release | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

Sen. Mark Kelly Criticizes Hegseth for Christian Rhetoric in Iran War Justification

1h 1 source 4 relevant data

In an April 1, 2026 appearance on MS NOW’s “Morning Joe,” Sen. Mark Kelly, D‑Ariz., a retired Navy captain and astronaut, condemned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for repeatedly invoking Christianity in explaining and promoting the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. Kelly cited Hegseth’s Pentagon prayer services, invitations to controversial Christian leaders, and a press briefing where Hegseth urged Americans to ‘take a knee and pray for victory in the name of Jesus Christ,’ calling that behavior ‘objectionable’ and inappropriate for a Defense Secretary. He argued the administration should be providing a coherent strategic rationale, timeline and exit strategy instead of religious appeals, warning that the war will raise Americans’ rent, grocery and gasoline costs and that Trump entered the conflict ‘without a strategic plan.’ Kelly also cautioned that any ground operation in Iran would be far more dangerous than Iraq, urged Trump to find an off‑ramp from a situation ‘you created,’ and linked his criticism to an ongoing legal fight over Hegseth’s move to downgrade his military retirement rank after he appeared in a video urging troops to resist unlawful orders.

Iran War and U.S. Policy Debate Religion in U.S. Civil-Military Affairs

📌 Key Facts

On April 1, 2026, Sen. Mark Kelly said on “Morning Joe” that he finds Pete Hegseth’s mixing of Christian rhetoric with Pentagon duties ‘pretty objectionable.’
Kelly referenced Hegseth holding Christian prayer services at the Pentagon, inviting controversial religious leaders, and telling Americans to ‘pray for victory in the name of Jesus Christ’ in the Iran war.
Kelly warned that a ground invasion of Iran would be ‘much more significant’ than Iraq, accused Trump of entering the conflict without a strategic plan, and urged the administration to find a rational exit plan.
The criticism comes amid a legal battle in which Hegseth’s Pentagon has moved to downgrade Kelly’s retirement rank and pension over a video where Kelly called on service members to resist unlawful orders.

📊 Relevant Data

In 2023, 70% of the U.S. military identifies as Christian, compared to approximately 65-66% of the general U.S. population identifying as Christian.

US military becoming more religious, nation remains more secular — The Christian Post

In the U.S. Army active component as of October 2022, Black service members make up 20.3%, compared to 13.6% of the U.S. population, while White service members are 53.6% compared to about 60% of the population.

Active Component Demographics — U.S. Army

A 2026 poll found that 55% of American Jews oppose U.S. military action against Iran, compared to 32% who support it.

Most American Jews Disapprove of Us Military Action Against Iran, New Poll Shows — The Jewish News

In a 2026 poll, 59% of Catholics and 58% of mainline Protestants support the U.S. war with Iran.

'All of us are under attack': Iran war brings wider impacts in Israel — Herald and News