U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth delivered a keynote address emphasizing Christian nationalism at the National Religious Broadcasters' (NRB) Freedom 250 Celebration on in Nashville. The event, part of the NRB's 2026 International Christian Media Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort, marked progress toward America's 250th anniversary of independence and focused on honoring the nation's purported Christian foundations.
In his speech, Hegseth railed against the "godless left," describing it as fueled by "godless and toxic ideologies" alien to Western Christian values, promoting rage under a guise of tolerance. He praised the Trump administration's policies as aligned with biblical principles, highlighting efforts to restore "spiritual health" in the military.
Key lines included:
- "We train our troops, we no longer trans our troops," and "We are one military, one fighting force, one nation under God. We are not in woke we trust, we are in God we trust."
- He framed America as historically rooted in "Western Christian" traditions from Jerusalem through Athens, Rome, and the New World, positioning faith and freedom as essential to a strong nation and military.
The appearance featured patriotic elements, including an Army band and color guard from the 101st Airborne Division, with Hegseth entering to cheers and saluting the flag-waving audience. The speech drew widespread attention and criticism for its overt promotion of Christian nationalist themes, including anti-trans and anti-abortion remarks, attacks on "DEI" initiatives, and defense of viewing human life through a sacred Christian lens, leading Hegseth to embrace the "Christian nationalist" label if it means upholding such beliefs. Critics, including media outlets, described it as fiery and politically charged, tying it to recent controversies like Hegseth's invitation of self-described Christian nationalist pastor Doug Wilson to lead a Pentagon worship service days earlier.
The NRB positioned the Freedom 250 event as nonpartisan, celebrating free expression, biblical truth, and America's faith-based founding principles ahead of the 2026 semiquincentennial.