Hegseth Quotes Pulp Fiction to Frame Iran War as Divine Justice

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth drew attention during a Pentagon prayer service on Wednesday, April 16, 2026, by reciting dialogue from the 1994 film “Pulp Fiction” as part of a prayer that framed the war in Iran as an act of divine justice.

According to multiple reports, Hegseth delivered the remarks during a monthly Christian worship service held at the Pentagon, where he told attendees he had received the prayer from the lead mission planner of a team called “Sandy 1,” which had recently rescued downed Air Force crew members in Iran. He explained that combat search-and-rescue crews refer to the prayer as “CSAR 25:17,” noting that he believes This proves meant to reflect Ezekiel 25:17 from the Bible.

The passage Hegseth recited closely mirrors a monologue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winnfield, in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” In the film, Jackson’s character cites a fictionalized version of Ezekiel 25:17 before carrying out an act of violence. Hegseth’s version began with the line: “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to capture and destroy my brother,” followed by: “And you will know my call sign is Sandy 1, when I lay my vengeance upon thee.”

Fact-checkers have confirmed that the verse Hegseth used does not appear in the Bible and originates from the film’s screenplay. Snopes rated the claim that Hegseth quoted a fake Bible verse from “Pulp Fiction” as “True,” noting that while he did not present the passage as authentic scripture, he acknowledged its cinematic origin by referencing its connection to the movie through the CSAR designation.

The use of the “Pulp Fiction” quote in a official Department of Defense setting has drawn attention for its blending of popular culture with military ritual. Observers note that the prayer service, intended as a moment of reflection, instead highlighted how lines from a violent crime film were repurposed to sanctify a military operation in the Middle East.

Hegseth’s remarks come amid ongoing U.S. Military operations related to Iran, including recent combat search-and-rescue missions to recover downed personnel. The Pentagon has not issued an official statement regarding the prayer service or the secretary’s use of the film-derived text.