Gavin Newsom and Others Call Out Pete Hegseth Over His Controversial ‘Pulp Fiction’ Prayer Comments
In a week rife with potential political satire, former Fox News host Pete Hegseth captured attention during a Pentagon ceremony by quoting a fictional Bible passage from Pulp Fiction. This moment, marked by a glaring misstep, has made him a target for critics.
Hegseth’s blunder—reportedly reciting a line intended as scripture—has drawn notable reactions across the political spectrum. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has been known for his sharp wit, joined in on the ridicule as the video of Hegseth’s misquote began circulating online. Notably, Newsom portrayed Hegseth in a social media post as Uma Thurman from the iconic film, despite Hegseth’s reference actually stemming from a character played by Samuel L. Jackson.
https://t.co/8PJTZwRUjg pic.twitter.com/U0DUey5evW
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) April 16, 2026
Sean Parnell, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, offered a defense of Hegseth, albeit hesitantly. In a statement shared online earlier today, Parnell noted, “Secretary Hegseth on Wednesday shared a custom prayer, referenced as the CSAR prayer, used by the brave warfighters of Sandy-1 who led the daylight rescue mission of Dude 44 Alpha out of Iran, which was obviously inspired by dialogue in Pulp Fiction. However, both the CSAR prayer and the dialogue in Pulp Fiction were reflections of the verse Ezekiel 25:17, as Secretary Hegseth clearly said in his remarks at the prayer service. Anyone saying the Secretary misquoted Ezekiel 25:17 is peddling fake news and ignorant of reality.”
While Hegseth’s remarks have prompted a wave of backlash, neither Quentin Tarantino nor Samuel L. Jackson has publicly responded to the incident. However, various public figures—including Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock, author Don Winslow, and tennis champion Martina Navratilova—have not held back in their criticism. Winslow referred to Hegseth as a “clown” in a scathing social media post.
I’ll let this one speak for itself. https://t.co/F5oRVHYcKj
— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) April 16, 2026
Dear @SecWar Pete Hegseth,
YOU ARE A CLOWN.
YOU ARE THE WORST SECRETARY OF DEFENSE IN THE HISTORY OF THIS NATION.
A CHILD. A CLOWN. A GOOF.
— Don Winslow (@donwinslow) April 16, 2026
— Martina Navratilova (@Martina) April 16, 2026
Who among us has not mistaken the holy words of Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction for biblical scripture?
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) April 16, 2026
Adding to the commentary, Michael McKean, known for his satirical work in The Diplomat, humorously suggested that Hegseth should have chosen to recount a different scene from the film, commenting that it would have been a more creative approach.
Former NBC News reporter Chuck Todd weighed in on the matter, stating that Hegseth seems to have a severe case of what he termed a “poser complex.” His remark reflects a broader skepticism about Hegseth’s credibility in the political arena.
Poor Pete Hegseth, he’s clearly got the worst case of poser complex DC’s ever seen and that’s saying something.
— Chuck Todd (@chucktodd) April 16, 2026
As the political landscape continues to shift, Hegseth’s misstep highlights the ongoing complexities and challenges within the current administration. With scheduled programming like SNL returning in early May, the potential for this incident to fade from the spotlight remains uncertain, particularly in an administration known for frequent gaffes.
