THE DAILY BLAST with Greg Sargent Angry Trump Erupts over War Failures as Pope’s Harsh Rebuke Hits Hard
Mar 31, 2026
Sarah Posner, journalist and scholar of religion who hosts Reign of Error, explains how extreme theology shapes violent political rhetoric. She unpacks Christian Reconstructionism, the role of Pentagon prayers, and why the Pope’s rebuke matters. The conversation traces how religious supremacy fuels threats and lax rules of engagement.
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Hegseth Frames War As God-Sanctioned Violence
- Pete Hegseth frames U.S. military action as divinely sanctioned violence rather than constrained by law.
- He quoted King David and prayed for "overwhelming violence of action" and no mercy, showing theology shaping military rhetoric.
Reconstructionism Elevates Biblical Law Over Human Law
- Christian Reconstructionism holds biblical law as superior to civil and international law, shaping adherents' view of governance and warfare.
- Sarah Posner explains Hegseth sees biblical mandates overriding Pentagon rules, U.S. law, and the Geneva Conventions.
Theology Normalizes Disregard For War Rules
- Hegseth's theology normalizes violence and dismisses international norms, framing atrocities as divinely justified.
- Posner notes he called the Geneva Conventions 'woke bullshit' in his book and treats civilian harm as deserved rather than collateral.