Pete Hegseth snaps at senator in squabble over Christianity: 'What are you insinuating?'

On Thursday afternoon, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth bristled and snapped at a Democratic senator who pressed him about his continual invocations of Christianity as part of his briefings and what it says about how he is running the Pentagon.

That led the former Fox News personality to accuse Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) of questioning his faith and of attacking his religious beliefs, at which point Hegseth became exceedingly combative and accused the lawmaker of having an ulterior motive in his questioning.

Addressing Hegseth’s ongoing purge of Pentagon officials, Reed noted, “I think that direction from your behavior is an intense interest in Christianity, in nationalism, and in not recognizing the talents of women and non-white gentlemen. And that's the wrong direction.”

“I don't know what you're insinuating, senator, but I am not ashamed of my faith in Jesus Christ,” the Pentagon chief fired back.

“Well, you shouldn't be ashamed,” Reed protested as Hegseth followed up with, “If you want to shame me for it, go ahead.”

“I'm not shaming you, but are you critical of other faiths?” the senator pressed.

“I am a believer; I'm quite open in that,” Hegseth replied. “And our department allows for a multitude of faiths. So I don't know what you're suggesting. I've heard the likes of things that people like you suggest to try to smear my character, and I won't give in to it.”

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