Stephen Colbert Mocks Pete Hegseth’s Pulp Fiction Prayer
During a recent episode of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert delivered a sharp and humorous critique of Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of Defense, following an incident where Hegseth recited a prayer that bore striking similarities to a famous monologue from the film Pulp Fiction.
At a Pentagon worship service on April 15, Hegseth presented what he referred to as “CSAR 25:17” (Combat Search and Rescue), claiming it was inspired by the biblical verse Ezekiel 25:17. However, the content of his prayer closely mirrored the iconic dialogue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson’s character, Jules Winnfield, in Pulp Fiction. This led to widespread ridicule and confusion, particularly given the religious context of the event.
A Ridiculous Mix-Up
Colbert seized upon the moment, playing a mashup of Hegseth’s prayer alongside Jackson’s performance in the film. He quipped that Hegseth, a figure associated with Christian nationalism, had seemingly quoted from a “new gospel” where “Jesus says the N-word a lot.” The joke highlighted the absurdity of the situation and drew attention to the potential missteps of a high-ranking official.
Hegseth has faced criticism for blocking the promotions of four Army officers — two Black men and two women — to one-star general positions. Critics and senior officials have raised concerns about possible racial or gender bias in his decisions.
“Hegseth quoting from the gospel of Quentin Tarantino!” Colbert joked. “If you’re not familiar with that gospel, it’s like the regular Bible, but Tarantino’s Jesus says the N-word a lot.”
A Comparison of Performances
Colbert also compared the two versions of the prayer, suggesting that Hegseth’s reading felt like “your self-tape versus the guy who actually got the part.” He concluded the segment with a parody prayer composed entirely of famous movie lines from Taxi Driver, Forrest Gump, and Jackson’s Snakes on a Plane.
Despite the humor, Colbert expressed a desire for Hegseth’s success, stating, “If he succeeds, that means America succeeds. So, please join me in prayer.”
He then delivered a satirical prayer that included lines such as, “God, I’m talking to you. You talking to me? Are you talking to me? War is like a box of chocolates. I am tired of these motherf——.”
Pentagon Defends the Remarks
In response to the controversy, the Pentagon later issued a statement defending the prayer, calling it a “custom prayer” that was “obviously inspired” by the film Pulp Fiction. A spokesperson for the Department of Defense, Sean Parnell, wrote on X that the CSAR prayer was used by “brave warfighters of Sandy-1” during a daylight rescue mission.
However, Parnell acknowledged that both the CSAR prayer and the Pulp Fiction dialogue reflected the same biblical verse, as Hegseth had stated during the service.
Jackson’s character in the film was known for quoting scripture, which added another layer of irony to the situation.
A Cultural Moment
Hegseth’s unintentional tribute to Pulp Fiction sparked a wave of references across the media. Journalist Nick Kristof even coined the term “Book of Tarantino,” while California Governor Gavin Newsom shared a meme featuring the film’s poster with a photo of Hegseth replacing Uma Thurman.
The incident also drew attention to the broader issues facing Hegseth, including allegations of unauthorized war actions, targeting of civilians, and the politicization of the armed forces. On April 15, House Democrats filed six articles of impeachment against him.
This mix-up has become a cultural touchstone, highlighting the unexpected ways in which pop culture can intersect with high-stakes political figures.
