{"id":2587756,"date":"2026-04-06T17:02:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:02:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-and-hegseth-lean-hard-on-religion-in-post-easter-iran-press-conference\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T17:04:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T21:04:57","slug":"trump-and-hegseth-lean-hard-on-religion-in-post-easter-iran-press-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/trump-and-hegseth-lean-hard-on-religion-in-post-easter-iran-press-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump and Hegseth lean hard on religion in post-Easter Iran press conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftrump-and-hegseth-lean-hard-on-religion-in-post-easter-iran-press-conference%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2587756&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>During a White House press briefing on April 6, 2026, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth leaned on Christian faith while discussing the rescue of an American serviceman stranded in Iran after an F-15 incident. Trump said God was watching over the operation because it happened near Easter, joking that the timing was \u201cin Easter territory.\u201d Hegseth drew a parallel between the rescue timeline-with the pilot\u2019s six-hour retrieval and the other crew member\u2019s more-than-a-day ordeal-and the crucifixion and resurrection, calling the rescued serviceman \u201ca pilot reborn\u201d on Easter Sunday. The piece notes Hegseth\u2019s crusader tattoos and his history of blending religious language with military leadership. Trump asserted that god supports the United States\u2019 actions, urged Iran to accept U.S. ceasefire terms, and warned of bombing \u201cback to the Stone Age\u201d if negotiations fail, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senators-introduce-bipartisan-legislation-tackling-cyber-security\/\" title=\"Senators introduce bipartisan legislation tackling cyber security\">targeting critical infrastructure<\/a>. The report also mentions that, in the rescue, one airman was quickly recovered while the other remained in opposed territory before being evacuated on Easter.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Trump and Hegseth lean hard on religion in post-Easter Iran press conference: &lsquo;God is good&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\"> Donald Trump<\/a> and War Secretary<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pete-hegseth\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1991\"> Pete Hegseth<\/a> both evoked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/christianity\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"774\">Christian faith<\/a> at a press conference debriefing on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4516986\/iran-military-f15-crash-rescue-operation\/\">rescue<\/a> of the American serviceman who was stranded in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"100\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to reporters at the White House on Monday, Trump said he believed God was watching over the rescue operation because of its proximity to&nbsp;the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/easter\/\">Easter<\/a> holiday.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you go into these areas, you don&rsquo;t come out like we came out. God was watching us,&rdquo; he said, joking that the timeframe of the rescue was &ldquo;in Easter territory, I guess.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/watch-live-trump-campaign-holds-press-conference-to-outline-viable-path-to-victory\/\" title=\"Watch Live: ... Campaign Holds Press Conference to Outline &#039;Viable Path to Victory&#039;\">news conference<\/a> in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, April 6, 2026, in Washington, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine listen. (AP Photo\/Mark Schiefelbein)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Two servicemen flying an F-15 were forced to eject from their plane when they took fire over Iranian territory on Friday. The pilot was tracked and rescued within six hours of the crash, but the weapons systems officer was stranded in the hostile country for over a day. He was successfully pulled out of the country by the U.S. military in the early hours of Easter Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth&nbsp;drew parallels between the rescue timeline and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >secretary noted<\/a> that the&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/defense\/4516986\/iran-military-f15-crash-rescue-operation\/\">F-15 operator<\/a>&nbsp;was forced to eject himself into hostile territory &ldquo;on a Friday, Good Friday,&rdquo; and &ldquo;hidden in a cave, a crevice, all of Saturday.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;And rescued on Sunday. Flown out of Iran as the sun was rising on Easter Sunday, a pilot reborn,&rdquo; Hegseth continued. &ldquo;All home and accounted for. A nation rejoicing. God is good.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Hegseth, who has crusader tattoos such as the Jerusalem Cross and the words &ldquo;Deus Vult&rdquo; (Latin for &ldquo;God Wills It&rdquo;), has at multiple points blended Christian belief with his military command. He <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/mar\/26\/hegseth-prayer-violence-pentagon\">prayed<\/a> at a Pentagon-hosted religious service last month that &ldquo;every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy,&rdquo; Hegseth added. &ldquo;We ask these things with bold confidence in the mighty and powerful name of Jesus Christ.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>One reporter, following up on the Monday press conference&rsquo;s repeated references to Christianity, asked the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/white-house-reporters-demand-end-to-biden-admins-restrictive-prescreening-of-reporters\/\" title=\"... Reporters Demand End to Biden Admin&#039;s &quot;Restrictive&quot; Prescreening of Reporters\">president directly<\/a> if he believes &ldquo;God supports the United States&rsquo; actions in this war.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I do, because God is good,&rdquo; Trump said, interrupting the reporter mid-question. &ldquo;God is good, and God wants to see people taken care of.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4517202\/trump-significant-step-iran-talks-says-not-good-enough\/?_gl=1*r7xaoh*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7JCgsMTZkwMVHx-tBh2rrDFEEAAYASAAEgLr4PD_BwE\">TRUMP HAILS &lsquo;SIGNIFICANT STEP&rsquo; IN IRAN NEGOTIATIONS BUT SAYS PROGRESS &lsquo;NOT GOOD ENOUGH&rsquo;<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trump continued: &ldquo;God doesn&rsquo;t like what&rsquo;s happening. I don&rsquo;t like what&rsquo;s happening. Everyone says I enjoy it &mdash; I don&rsquo;t enjoy this. &hellip; I don&rsquo;t like seeing people killed.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Trump reaffirmed his position that the Islamic regime has until tomorrow to accept <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4517144\/iran-rejects-ceasefire-proposal-trump-strait-of-hormuz-deadline\/\">U.S. terms for a ceasefire <\/a>or else the country will be bombed &ldquo;back to the Stone Age.&rdquo; The president said the military would specifically target critical infrastructure, such as power plants and bridges.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Trump, Hegseth cite faith after Iran rescue<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2587757,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26096666896326.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[45173,3823,70812,10248,3634],"class_list":["post-2587756","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-hegseth","tag-iran","tag-press-conference-2","tag-religion","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26096666896326.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587756","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587756"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587756\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2587760,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587756\/revisions\/2587760"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2587757"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587756"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587756"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587756"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}