Pete Hegseth prayer service at Pentagon calls for 'overwhelming violence' amid Iran war strikes

[0:00] And now, I want to introduce one of God's mightiest men, our Secretary of War, the Honorable Pete Hexeth. [0:17] Well, thank you, Hong. Appreciate it. Appreciate your leadership. [0:20] And it's true, I don't think there could be a more fitting—I say this every month. [0:26] Every month it is fitting to be right here. [0:28] All the more fitting this month, at this moment, given what tens of thousands of Americans are doing right now, at this very moment. [0:37] And I want to say to this group what I said to the public, and what I will continue to say to the public directly and earnestly. [0:45] Please pray for them every day. [0:47] Please encourage your families, your kids, your schools, your churches, your communities, your circle of friends, to openly pray for our troops. [0:57] To give them the skill, the courage, and the wisdom they need where they are. [1:01] And last month, I meant to read a prayer, which I'm going to read today. [1:07] Which I think is— [1:08] It was fitting, given what's going on right now, but it was just as fitting in January as it is today. [1:13] And it was sent to me by the chaplain who oversaw the Maduro raid. [1:18] So this was the prayer that he prayed before that mission, with those great Americans who conducted that mission. [1:26] And he wanted to share it with me, and I'd like to share it with the group today. [1:30] So put yourself in the place of one of those couple hundred Americans about to undertake this audacious raid. [1:38] On the Iwo Jima, looking at a lot of uncertainty in front of you. [1:42] And this was the passage, and this was the pre-mission reading, and the prayer that was read with them. [1:48] First, a reading from the book of Psalms, chapter 18, verses 37 to 42. [1:53] King David writes, [1:54] I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. [2:01] I thrust them through so that they were not able to rise. [2:04] They fell under my feet. [2:06] For you equipped me with strength for the battle. [2:08] You made those who rise— [2:09] You made those who rise against me sink under me. [2:12] You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me, I destroyed. [2:17] They cried for help, but there was none to save. [2:20] They cried to the Lord, but he did not answer them. [2:23] I beat them fine as dust before the wind. [2:25] I cast them out like the mire of the streets. [2:31] And then he prayed this prayer, the chaplain, and we pray it with him this morning. [2:39] Almighty God, who trains our hands for war and our fingers for battle, you who stirred the nations [2:44] from the north against Babylon of old, making her land a desolation where none dwell. [2:50] Behold now the wicked who rise against your justice and the peace of the righteous. [2:55] Snap the rod of the oppressor, frustrate the wicked plans, and break the teeth of the ungodly. [3:01] By the blast of your anger, let the evil perish. [3:04] Let their bulls go down to slaughter, for their day has come, the time of their punishment. [3:10] Pour out your wrath upon those who plot vain things and blow them away like chaff before the wind. [3:16] Grant this task force. [3:19] Clear and righteous targets for violence. [3:22] Surround them as a shield. [3:23] Protect the innocent and blameless in their midst. [3:26] Make their arrows like those of a skilled warrior who returns not empty-handed. [3:31] Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation. [3:37] Give them wisdom in every decision. [3:40] Endurance for the trial ahead. [3:41] Unbreakable unity and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy. [3:48] Preserve their lives. [3:49] Sharpen their resolve. [3:50] And let justice be executed. [3:52] Swiftly and without remorse, that evil may be driven back and wicked souls delivered to the eternal damnation prepared for them. [3:59] For the wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. [4:05] We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ, King over all kings. [4:12] And amen. [4:15] Amen. [4:15] And may the righteous be as bold as a lion. [4:19] May we pray such prayer for our men and women in harm's way right now. [4:24] To think that such Americans exist on our behalf, on behalf of the American people. [4:30] And that is certainly our prayer for them today. [4:33] It's an honor you're gathered here. [4:35] And I'm grateful for so much leadership that we see here who put their faith not in chariots, who put their faith in the King of Kings. [4:45] And in a place like this, it has a lot of chariots and a lot of capabilities. [4:50] And they're beautiful. [4:51] And we love them. [4:52] And we use them to the best of our ability. [4:54] We understand who they are. [4:55] And we know who the author of all things truly is. [4:59] And may we submit to him in these moments when we are tempted to be consumed by our own capabilities and our own missions, that when we put it humbly before him. [5:11] So thank you for being here this afternoon. [5:13] I appreciate it. [5:14] And it's also an honor to be joined today by a fellow member of our cabinet. [5:19] It's such a blessing to be a part of a cabinet full of faith-filled members who pray together. [5:26] Who share scripture together on a regular basis. [5:28] Who meet together and pray together. [5:30] It's an incredible thing to watch. [5:32] And so when we thought about who could come by today, it made a ton of sense to have my dear friend, the 12th Secretary of the VA, Doug Collins, come by. [5:40] He's a former congressman. [5:43] He's currently still a reserve Air Force chaplain. [5:47] He'll be done in May. [5:49] I don't know where he's doing his reserve duty right now. [5:51] This counts right here today. [5:54] This is points right here. [5:56] But more significantly for today, he's a Baptist preacher who loves his Lord and Savior and has never been ashamed to profess the name of Jesus in any place that he's been at any stage of his life. [6:10] And he's sharing the gospel with us today. [6:12] Secretary of the VA, my friend, Doug Collins. [6:15] Come on up.