Remarks come after defense secretary calls for changes to military’s chaplain corps, which had been ‘watered down’
The defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, prayed during a religious service at the Pentagon that there be “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy”.
The Christian worship service, held on Wednesday before military and civilian workers at the Pentagon, was Hegseth’s first since the Iran war began, the Associated Press reported.
Hegseth called for violence during a prayer he said originated from a military chaplain and was given to troops after Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, was captured by the US, the AP said.
“Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation,” Hegseth said in the prayer service. “Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
