Trump’s Holy War Abroad and at Home

About this episode

The episode discusses Trump's address regarding the U.S.-Israel conflict and the religious undertones in the rhetoric surrounding the war.

Vote here to help The Intercept Briefing win its first Webby Award for best news and politics podcast. Show description: After more than a month into the U.S.–Israel conflict with Iran , President Donald Trump addressed the nation directly for the first time on Wednesday about why he dragged the country into an unprovoked illegal war. During his wide-ranging speech, Trump made numerous false claims, including repeatedly emphasizing the nuclear threat Iran posed. The reasons the Trump administration have given for partnering with Israel in this war have been varying and at times include religious undertones , especially from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth regularly infuses Christian right rhetoric in how he speaks about the war on Iran and the military more broadly. During a recent religious service at the Pentagon, Hegseth prayed for God to give U.S. troops “wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.” “Hegseth belongs to a denomination called the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches. ... [He] believes that he is carrying out a spiritual and actual war to…

People in this episode

Guest: Sarah Posner

Topics covered

• U.S.-Israel conflict
• Trump administration
• religious rhetoric
• military action
• international law

Keywords

• Trump
• Hegseth
• Iran
• Israel
• Christian right
• military
• war
• international law

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Intercept

Places: U.S., Israel, Iran

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