Pete Hegseth’s Use of “Pharisees” Echoes Dangerous Anti-Jewish Stereotypes

Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense and former Trump ally, has taken to casting the media as modern-day Pharisees—self-righteous, hypocritical elites who, like their biblical namesakes, supposedly reject truth and seek to condemn Jesus. Hegseth’s repeated use of this analogy to defend the Trump administration’s actions is not just a political dodge; it taps into a deeply embedded and dangerous anti-Jewish caricature.

On April 16, Hegseth compared the press to Pharisees who witnessed miracles yet hardened their hearts to explain away goodness. Two weeks later, at a Senate hearing, he doubled down, accusing critics of Trump of being blinded by animus and fixated on flaws. This rhetoric frames the media’s legitimate scrutiny as religious persecution, portraying Trump as a Christ-like figure unfairly attacked.

What many missed amid the controversy is that the “Pharisee” stereotype Hegseth invokes has a long history as an antisemitic trope. Scholars Joseph Sievers and Amy-Jill Levine note that Pharisees have been portrayed in Western culture as legalistic, hypocritical, and hostile to Jesus—images that bleed into antisemitic discourse by casting Jews collectively as enemies of Christianity. This stereotype is so ingrained it often goes unchallenged, even in mainstream media coverage of Hegseth’s remarks.

Pope Francis has explicitly condemned this misrepresentation, warning that the negative image of Pharisees has unjustly been applied to Jews in general, fueling harmful stereotypes. The Catholic Church rejects biblical fundamentalism that ignores the historical context of the Gospels, which were written decades after Jesus’ death and reflect early Christian polemics rather than objective history.

In reality, Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders engaged in debates about Torah observance alongside Jesus—not enemies plotting his demise. By weaponizing this caricature, Hegseth not only distorts religious history but also contributes to a climate where antisemitism can flourish under the guise of political rhetoric.

Hegseth’s defense of Trump through religious symbolism is a stark example of how the administration’s allies use faith not to foster understanding but to shut down accountability. It’s a reminder that mixing politics with distorted religious narratives can reinforce dangerous prejudices and distract from the real issues—like corruption, authoritarianism, and attacks on democracy—that demand our attention now.