Hegseth's 'Pulp Fiction' prayer controversy

The wording used by Hegseth included the iconic 'great vengeance and furious anger' lines delivered by Samuel L. Jackson in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film.

While Hegseth claimed the prayer was based on the Book of Ezekiel, biblical scholars noted that the specific phrasing exists only in the movie's script.

The incident has intensified criticism of the Defense Secretary's 'fire-and-brimstone' rhetoric regarding the Middle East conflict.

Critics have labeled the gaffe as 'embarrassing' and 'unprofessional' for a high-ranking government official during a time of war.