Religious rhetoric periodically rises within decision-making circles in the White House whenever the United States launches a military campaign in the Middle East. Some American leaders view these conflicts as extending beyond political dimensions into explicitly religious interpretations.
In this context, a number of controversial doctrinal statements have been issued by American presidents, ministers, and senior officials within the U.S. administration. These statements have linked military conflicts in the Middle East with religious interpretations and biblical prophecies.
Prayer for Victory in “Difficult Times”
A video published by the White House on social media platforms showed U.S. President Donald Trump seated behind his desk while around twenty Christian religious leaders gathered around him. Among them were pastors associated with the Evangelical movement. They placed their hands on his shoulders while raising prayers for the “protection” of the president and for the U.S. armed forces.
Trump had invited a group of Evangelical pastors to the Oval Office in the White House for a collective prayer session. During the gathering, the pastors placed their hands on Trump while praying, asking God to grant “protection and guidance” to the Commander in Chief and to American forces in their confrontation with Iran.
The meeting drew criticism from observers who viewed it as an attempt to frame the conflict in religious terms, particularly given Trump’s political base, which has strong support from Evangelical Christian groups.
Just one day before the gathering of pastors at the White House, another video circulated on the platform X showing Trump’s spiritual adviser, Paula White. In the video, she appeared calling upon the “Holy Spirit” and “angelic reinforcements” from Africa and South America to secure victory for Trump.
White appeared in the footage, which has since become symbolic in the context of the current war with Iran, striking rhythmic gestures with her hand as she spoke, saying: “Angels are being sent from Africa right now, angelic reinforcements.”
U.S. Military Leaders: War as Part of a Divine Plan
In a related context, American soldiers reportedly received instructions from their commanders suggesting that the war against Iran was intended to bring about “the resurrection” as part of a divine plan, citing passages from the Book of Revelation.
According to the Anadolu Agency, American officers across different branches of the military stated that their commanders told them the American-Israeli war against Iran aimed to trigger the end of the world as described in the Bible, commonly referred to as the “resurrection”. These claims emerged in complaints submitted to a U.S. oversight body.
A non commissioned officer wrote in a complaint sent via email to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF):
“Our commander opened our combat readiness briefing, urging us not to be afraid of what is currently happening in our combat operations in Iran.”
He added:
“He encouraged us to tell our troops that all of this is part of God’s divine plan, specifically referring to several passages from the Book of Revelation that point to the resurrection and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.”
Within this context, Mikey Weinstein, the current president of the MRFF, stated that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed long-standing barriers between church and state within the Pentagon since assuming office. He also introduced a monthly prayer practice attended by Christian extremists who called for restoring rights to men only and transforming the United States into a religious state.
A Minister Bearing Crusader Symbols
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth bears a large tattoo of the Jerusalem Cross and the symbol of the Crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem across his chest. The symbol is historically associated with the Crusades.
Hegseth, who previously worked as a presenter on Fox News, stated that the tattoo represents a personal Christian symbol. However, it sparked controversy due to its association with the Crusader campaigns against Muslims.
On other parts of his body, he carries a tattoo of the Arabic word “kafir” beneath his right arm. He also bears another tattoo in Latin reading “Deus Vult”, meaning “God wills it”, a historical Crusader slogan.
The Council on American Islamic Relations stated that these symbols signal what it described as “Islamophobia”, particularly in light of Hegseth’s role in leading the war against Iran.
Veteran Senator: Our War Is Religious
In another political statement linking the conflict to religious framing, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham previously described the confrontation with Iran as a “religious war”, adding that “the United States will determine the course of the Middle East for a thousand years”.
Looking back further into the roots of such religious rhetoric, former U.S. President George W. Bush delivered a speech on 16 September 2001 following the attacks of 11 September, in which he said: “This crusade, this war on terrorism, is going to take a while.”
The statement provoked widespread anger across the Muslim world at the time. Bush later retreated from using the word “crusade” to avoid its religious implications. Nevertheless, the remark has remained a historical reference point in discussions of U.S. policy in the Middle East, particularly in the context of the wars waged by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq.
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