Pete Hegseth’s “Pharisees” Slam Is a Thinly Veiled Attack on the Press — and a Dive Into Dangerous Religious Stereotypes

At a recent news briefing on the Iran war, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth veered off script to accuse the American news media of being like the “Pharisees,” a biblical group historically depicted as rigid, hypocritical religious elites. Hegseth claimed the press’s “relentlessly negative coverage” of the war was akin to Pharisees who witnessed miracles but hardened their hearts to explain away goodness in pursuit of their own agenda.

Hegseth’s critique didn’t stop there. He doubled down by labeling reports of inadequate food on Navy vessels as “FAKE NEWS from the Pharisee Press.” The Department of Defense, now rebranded as the Department of War, echoed this language on social media. When pressed for comment, the department offered nothing beyond Hegseth’s original remarks.

The problem is that “Pharisees” is not just a casual insult. The term originates from first-century Jewish groups focused on religious ritual and law, but over centuries, Christian interpretations have weaponized it as a pejorative against Jews — painting them as hypocritical, legalistic, and elitist. This history makes Hegseth’s use of the word not only tone-deaf but also dangerous, stoking age-old religious antagonisms.

Historians and scholars emphasize that the Pharisees were respected members of Jewish society, devoted to sanctifying daily life and maintaining communal purity — not the caricature of self-righteous hypocrites depicted in selective New Testament passages. Some Pharisees even defended or followed Jesus, complicating the simplistic negative stereotype.

Democratic Senator Jacky Rosen called out Hegseth’s language in a recent Senate hearing, labeling it “hurtful” and “problematic.” Yet Hegseth remains unapologetic, using religious imagery to dismiss legitimate media scrutiny of military and government failures.

This is far from an isolated incident. Hegseth’s rhetoric fits a broader pattern within the Trump administration and its allies: demonizing the press as enemies of the people using coded language that often harks back to divisive and prejudiced tropes. By cloaking attacks on the media in religious terms steeped in historical bias, Hegseth not only undermines the free press but also fuels cultural and religious division.

We should be alarmed. When those in power resort to weaponizing religious stereotypes to silence criticism, it erodes democratic accountability and stokes intolerance. The press’s role is to hold power to account — not to be dismissed as “Pharisees” for doing their job.