A controversy has erupted in Washington after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth quoted a verse he presented as biblical during a religious service at the Pentagon, but which actually turned out to be a quote from Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction.
During the ceremony, Hegseth read a text that he said was inspired by the verse Ezekiel 25:17, linking it to a U.S. military search-and-rescue mission called “Sandy 1,” conducted in Iran. However, much of the quote matched the famous monologue of the character played by Samuel L. Jackson in the 1994 film Pulp Fiction.
The actual Bible verse is much shorter and does not contain the dramatic phrases used in the film. The version quoted by Hegseth is a stylized variation that became popular through Tarantino's film.
The incident was first reported by the blog “A Public Witness,” which specializes in the relationship between religion and politics. The controversy was further compounded when, during a press conference that same day, Hegseth attacked the media, comparing them to the Pharisees of the New Testament, accusing them of reporting on the war on Iran with a negative and prejudiced stance.
His statements have sparked debate both for the misuse of religious references and for his harsh tone towards the press.
On social media and in the media, the episode has been interpreted as an inappropriate mix of pop culture and religious references at an official Pentagon ceremony.
