Hegseth’s Pastor Appears to Endorse Prayers to 'Stop' Candidate James Talarico — Says 'By Any Means Necessary'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s family pastor, Brooks Potteiger, drew criticism after appearing on a Christian nationalist podcast where hosts prayed that God would "stop" Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico, even suggesting action "by any means necessary." The exchange has intensified scrutiny of Hegseth’s religious advisers and his ties to figures associated with Christian nationalist views.

Podcast Exchange and Controversial Language

The remarks occurred during a March 16 episode of the Reformation Red Pill podcast, hosted by Joshua Haymes, a former pastoral intern at Potteiger’s church. On the show, Haymes and Potteiger described Talarico with hostile terms such as "demon," "wolf" and "snake," and invoked imprecatory psalms—Old Testament passages that petition God to curse or punish enemies.

James Talarico at a campaign rally on Sept. 9, 2025Credit: Callaghan O'Hare for The Washington Post via Getty

At one point, Haymes said, "I pray that God kills him," then clarified the phrase as a desire to "kill his heart and raise him up to new life in Christ." Potteiger responded, "Right, we want him crucified with Christ," and likened the hoped-for transformation to Saul of Tarsus's conversion into Paul the Apostle. The conversation closed with Haymes saying, "And if it would not be within God’s will to do, stop him by any means necessary, oh God," to which Potteiger made an affirmative sound as the episode ended.

Responses And Context

James Talarico, a state representative and Presbyterian seminarian who won the Democratic nomination for the Texas Senate seat this month, replied on X: "Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills. You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you." He has repeatedly invoked faith in his public life.

Potteiger has since posted that his intent was spiritual conversion rather than literal death, arguing that references to being "crucified with Christ" point toward repentance and renewal similar to Saul's biblical conversion. In his social posts, Potteiger criticized Talarico’s position on abortion and defended the use of imprecatory psalms in Christian prayer.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.Credit: JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty

In a statement to PEOPLE, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson accused some media outlets of twisting Potteiger’s words to advance a partisan narrative. Meanwhile, critics across the political spectrum, including Rep. Joaquin Castro, condemned the pastor’s language.

Broader Significance

Potteiger leads Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, an evangelical congregation outside Nashville that Hegseth began attending around 2021. The church is affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, a denomination co-founded by Doug Wilson, a figure who has openly described Christian nationalist views. Hegseth has invited Potteiger and Wilson to speak at Pentagon events, and Hegseth himself has appeared on Haymes’ podcast several times.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with pastor Doug Wilson at the PentagonCredit: DOW Rapid Response/X

The episode has fed wider debates about the role of religious rhetoric in government settings and the influence of Christian nationalist ideas within parts of the conservative movement. It also comes amid heightened attention to how religious language is invoked by some U.S. officials in the context of recent foreign-policy and military developments in the Middle East.

Background On Hegseth

Hegseth has drawn past controversy for tattoos that critics described as anti-Muslim. One tattoo uses the Arabic-derived term "kafir," often translated as "nonbeliever," and another reads "Deus Vult," Latin for "God wills it," a phrase associated with medieval Crusaders. Images of those tattoos prompted scrutiny after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and affected his prior National Guard assignments.

What Remains Unclear: Whether Potteiger's remarks will prompt further institutional responses from the Pentagon, Potteiger’s denomination, or other civic bodies. The episode has already prompted public statements and social media rebuttals from multiple parties.