Hegseth's Pastor's Imprecatory Prayers Against Democratic Senate Candidate

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pastor Brooks Potteiger, from Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship near Nashville, joined Christian Nationalist commentator Joshua Haymes on his podcast to discuss Texas state Rep. James Talarico's U.S. Senate campaign. During the podcast, Haymes and Potteiger prayed imprecatory psalms against Talarico, with Haymes saying "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ," and Potteiger stating "We want him crucified, with Christ."

Key Points

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Hegseth's Pastor's Imprecatory Prayers Against Democratic Senate Candidate

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's pastor Brooks Potteiger, from Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship near Nashville, joined Christian Nationalist commentator Joshua Haymes on his podcast to discuss Texas state Rep. James Talarico's U.S. Senate campaign. During the podcast, Haymes and Potteiger prayed imprecatory psalms against Talarico, with Haymes saying "I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ," and Potteiger stating "We want him crucified, with Christ."

Mar 21, 2026
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Key Points
Hegseth's pastor Brooks Potteiger appeared on the Christian nationalist podcast 'Reformed Red Pill' alongside Joshua Haymes to discuss Democrat James Talarico's Texas Senate campaign.
The pastors prayed for God to kill Talarico's heart and raise him up in Christ, then added "if it would not be within God's will to do so, stop him by any means necessary."
Potteiger's church is part of the broader Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches movement, founded by Doug Wilson, a self-described Christian nationalist.
Haymes explained his anger toward Talarico is rooted in Talarico's support for abortion rights and his refusal to hate transgender people.
Hegseth invited Doug Wilson to give a sermon at the Pentagon's auditorium, which was broadcast live on the Defense Department's internal TV network.
Perspective

The video uses a strongly critical, left-leaning lens to frame Hegseth and his pastor's rhetoric as extremist Christian nationalism and potential incitement. The commentary treats the imprecatory prayer language as dangerous coded rhetoric with implicit calls for violence, rather than legitimate theological discourse, and emphasizes connections between Hegseth's administration and Christian nationalist ideology in positions of power.