DOW • Woke Agenda

Hegseth criticizes godless left and divisive DEI

21 February 2026

By Ellen Mitchell | The Hill

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth criticized the “godless” left and foreign ideologies while defending “Western Christian” ideas and traditions Thursday night at a Christian communicators conference in Nashville, Tenn.

“Gone is godless and divisive DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], gone is gender-bending equity and quotas, gone is climate change worship to a false God.

We are one military, one fighting force, one nation under God. We are not ‘In woke we trust’, we are ‘In God we trust’,”

Hegseth said as the headline speaker of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) 2026 International Christian Media Convention.

Hegseth used his speech to rail against what he says is “a world beset by dangerous and godless foreign ideologies that sow doubt, sin, confusion and death,” while praising the agenda of President Trump.

The Trump administration last year banned transgender service members from the military, cut numerous climate change and DEI-related programs, and sought to curtail paying for military personnel to travel outside their state to seek an abortion.

“Under the leadership of President Trump, the military once again supports and trains our troops and tends to their spiritual health. You see, we train our troops, we no longer trans our troops,” Hegseth said.

Since taking the helm of the Pentagon last year, Hegseth has upended the tradition that Defense secretaries stay out of public political commentary.

He has focused instead on shaping the military’s culture in more traditional Christian conservative views, enacting policy that bans transgender troops, reviews whether women should serve in combat roles and reevaluates the Defense Department’s support for Scouting America unless it institutes “core value reforms.”

On Thursday, he insisted “the other side is fueled by godless and toxic ideologies, foreign to the Western way of life, with tolerant hearts filled with rage and hate.”

First published on The Hill

@SECWAR gave remarks at the NRB Freedom 250 Celebration:

“My fellow Americans, patriots, and brothers and sisters in Christ:

I bring greetings from a FIGHTER for people of FAITH — President Donald J. Trump.

I get to see it every day. He is a fierce defender of Christians and people of faith — from college campuses to the country of Nigeria, and everything in between. ISIS had a different kind of Christmas Day in Nigeria.”

@SECWAR: “The famous image of Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow at Valley Forge (which hangs in my office) symbolizes abiding faith.

ON BENDED KNEE, APPEALING TO HEAVEN WHILE FIGHTING THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL MILITARY.

Chances of victory—ZERO. Chances of victory—impossible… ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD.”

@SECWAR: “If I may offer a few observation: Protecting the God-given life of an unborn baby is not political – it is BIBLICAL.

Protecting our borders from criminals who steal from us, assault our loved ones, and poison our citizens is not political – it is BIBLICAL.

Protecting women and children from being trafficked for sexual slavery is not political – it is BIBLICAL.

Standing guard over our children rather than letting them be taught perverse sexual practices or sharing a locker room with someone of the opposite sex is not political – it is BIBLICAL.

Protecting our culture and our religion from godless ideologies and pagan religions is not political – it is BIBLICAL.”

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