Hegseth's 'Pulp Fiction' prayer controversy

The incident occurred during a worship event where Hegseth was framing the war in Iran as an act of divine justice.

Critics pointed out that the wording closely matched the iconic monologue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson's character in the 1994 Quentin Tarantino film.

The Pentagon's spokesperson attempted to clarify that the secretary was reciting a prayer used by an air rescue group, but the explanation has not quelled the backlash.

The controversy has added to concerns about the use of religious rhetoric to justify the administration's foreign policy.