Pastor Doug Wilson Defends Pete Hegseth’s Christian Nationalism and Theocratic Views

“I don’t hear anything from him that contradicts what we teach, and I believe that he’s a consistent Christian gentleman,” Pastor Doug Wilson said about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Today, Explained podcast.

War is nothing new for America—but the way Pete Hegseth talks about it is. As President Donald Trump’s secretary of defense, Hegseth often frames U.S. military actions in Iran as divinely sanctioned. He compared the rescue of a downed Air Force member in Iran on Easter Sunday to the resurrection of Christ. At a recent press conference on Iran, he quoted a Bible verse about God blessing war. Hegseth also bears a tattoo with the Latin phrase “Deus vult,” meaning “God wills it,” a slogan used by Christian armies during the Crusades.

Wilson, who leads Hegseth’s church, told Today, Explained co-host Noel King that he approves of Hegseth’s approach. “I like the job he’s doing, and I like how he speaks,” Wilson said. He added that he can hear his own teachings reflected in Hegseth’s rhetoric about war.

From Fringe to Power: Doug Wilson’s Rise in Christian Nationalism

Wilson’s journey to influence has been decades in the making. In the late 1970s, he founded Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, which has since expanded under the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches. Recently, the church opened a branch in Washington, DC, positioning itself to engage with a conservative base increasingly receptive to Wilson’s vision of Christian nationalism and theocracy. This ideology holds that the U.S. should be governed according to Christian principles.

Wilson, once considered a fringe figure, has now entered the halls of power. He has led prayer services at the Pentagon, appeared on Tucker Carlson’s show and Ross Douthat’s podcast, spoken at Turning Point USA events, and addressed the National Conservatism Conference. His ideas are no longer on the margins.

Wilson’s Vision: A Christian Theocracy in America

In a recent conversation with Noel King on Today, Explained, Wilson outlined his ideal Christian theocracy, including policies such as:

• Banning abortion
• Outlawing same-sex marriage
• Repealing the 19th Amendment
• Establishing a government based on Christian principles

Wilson also discussed his view of Donald Trump as a transformative figure. When asked about Trump’s leadership, Wilson compared him to chemotherapy for a cancerous America: “Two-thirds of the time, I like it a lot. A third of the time, I think: What is he doing?” He added, “America’s got cancer and Trump is chemo. Trump is a radical chemo treatment and chemo is toxic. Chemo is a system where it kills the cancer before it kills the patient.”

Wilson acknowledged the damage Trump’s approach may cause but argued that the progress outweighs the harm. “I like the progress that Trump has made on the cancer. And I’m aware of some of the damage that’s done to the healthy,” he said.

For more on Doug Wilson’s views and his conversation with Noel King, listen to the full Today, Explained podcast on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Pandora, and Spotify.