Administration

Megyn Kelly blasts Trump, Hegseth over religious rhetoric: ‘Just don’t lie’

Comments:

by Sarah Davis - 04/18/26 2:56 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

by Sarah Davis - 04/18/26 2:56 PM ET

Comments:

Link copied

NOW PLAYING

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly slammed President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth over their recent controversial comments about religion.

The president received flak from some of his political base after he posted an AI-generated image of what appeared to be him as Jesus Christ on social media. He later took down the controversial image, claiming he thought it depicted him as a doctor.

Kelly called Trump’s explanation “such a f—— lie” during a recent taping of her podcast.

“Take it down and just say you’re sorry or don’t say you’re sorry and take it down, but don’t try to gaslight us. We can see,” she said.

The president doubled down amid the controversy, sharing another AI-created image that showed him being embraced by Jesus.

Trump has also been feuding with Pope Leo XIV, after the leader of the Catholic Church criticized the ongoing military operations in Iran and urged for a peaceful resolution.

Kelly also addressed Hegseth’s recent comparison during a press briefing of members of the media to the Pharisees, a biblical Jewish group that clashed with Jesus.

In response to critical questions from reporters about the U.S.’s military operations against Iran, Hegseth said the journalists “are just like these Pharisees,” as “politically motivated animus for President Trump nearly completely blinds you from the brilliance of our American warriors.”

The former Fox News host condemned Hegseth’s religious analogy during a conversation with conservative podcaster Britt Mayer.

“Religion — obviously it’s a major part of Pete’s life, and I’m in favor of that — it doesn’t belong when you’re talking about our plans to wipe out people, including possible civilians, as President Trump continues to threaten,” Kelly said.

“These two things do not belong together, and … I’m just really uncomfortable with it,” she continued. “If [former President] Joe Biden did this through his Pentagon, I would have ripped him a new one, and therefore notwithstanding my friendship with Pete, I feel the need to register my strong objection to what he’s doing.”

Kelly’s criticism echoes comments from former White House strategist Steve Bannon, who advised Hegseth to tone down his references to religion during press briefings on the Iran war.

The former Trump official said on his show “War Room” on Thursday that Hegseth’s New Testament reference distracted from the military operational details he shared during the briefing.

“That’s all the mainstream media is covering right now — is Pete’s opening remark about the Gospel according to Mark and the reference to the Pharisees. … We ought to tone that down and focus, when we got the Pentagon, let’s have a military briefing,” he said.

Add as preferred source on Google