CBS News’ Margaret Brennan Under Fire for Veiled Criticism of Hegseth’s Call To Pray for Troops ‘in Jesus’ Name’

The CBS News’s Margaret Brennan is facing harsh criticism from conservatives and people of faith after she cast shade on a call from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for Americans to pray for soldiers.During a press conference on Thursday morning, Mr. Hegseth, a born-again Christian, offered a prayer for American troops in the Middle East. He added, “To the American people, please pray for them every day on bended knee with your family, in your schools, in your churches, in the name of Jesus Christ.”Ms. Brennan appeared to take issue with the reference to Jesus, writing on X, “The Secretary of Defense tells the American public to pray for our troops on bended knee and invoke Jesus’ name….”By employing an ellipsis, Ms. Brennan – who has been under siege for anti-MAGA and anti-Trump bias – was indicating disapproval of Mr. Hegseth’s invocation of Jesus without explicitly stating her views. A rapid response account for the White House shared Ms. Brennan’s post and wrote, “Yes, and? Only a leftist ‘reporter’ would be offended by praying for our troops.”The Pentagon press secretary, Kingsley Wilson, shared Ms. Brennan’s post and wrote, “Correct. As Americans have been doing since George Washington prayed for our troops at Valley Forge.”Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded, “Only in DC is something like this considered even remotely offensive.”“Democrats are reflexively repulsed when they hear someone invoke Christ’s name. What does that tell you?” wrote Congressman Brandon Gill. An editorial writer at the Washington Post, Dominic Pino, said, “I pray for our troops in Jesus’ name. I’m not special, it’s fairly common.”A conservative journalist, Jerry Dunleavy, wrote, “What’s with the dot dot dots at the end of this? Presidents & military leaders have throughout American history asked for public prayers for our troops in harm’s way.”Ms. Brennan also shared a clip of Mr. Hegseth in which he stated that Iran’s government holds a “violent, messianic, Islamist ideology chasing some sort of apocalyptic endgame.”“A regime like that, refusing to abandon its nuclear ambitions, is not just a regional problem: It’s a direct threat to America, to freedom, and to civilization,” Mr. Hegseth added. Ms. Brennan shared that clip and, again using an ellipsis, wrote, “The religious justifications for war continue…”Ms. Brennan may have been alluding to criticism Mr. Hegseth has received since his confirmation, when Democrats sought to link his professions of religious faith to white supremacy. Mr. Hegseth was criticized for having a crusaders’ cross tattooed on his chest and the Latin phrase “deus vult,” or God wills, a crusader battle cry, tattooed on his arm. Conservatives have frequently criticized Ms. Brennan for what they say is a left-wing bias in her coverage and her interviews with Republican officials. Last fall, President Trump told the Daily Caller that Ms. Brennan is “so bad” and “nasty.” The White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called her “stupid.”Top Trump Administration officials, however – such as JD Vance and Marco Rubio – have repeatedly appeared on her show, where they gamely fire back at her negative questions, often leading to viral moments online.CBS News did not respond to the Sun’s request for comment by the time of publication. Ms. Brennan also did not respond to the Sun’s request for comment by the time of publication.

CBS News’ Margaret Brennan Under Fire for Veiled Criticism of Hegseth’s Call To Pray for Troops ‘in Jesus’ Name’

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