{
  "id": 8991295,
  "title": "Hegseth slammed for 'blasphemous' use of bible passage in military recruitment drive",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/hegseth-slammed-for-blasphemous-use-of-bible-passage-in-military-8991295",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-21T19:32:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/hegseth-slammed-blasphemous-use-bible-passage-military-recruitment-drive"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has come under scrutiny for his use of a biblical verse in a military recruitment drive. During a \"Send Me Tour\" at Texas A&M University, Hegseth invoked Isaiah's words from the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 6, Verse 8, where Isaiah responds to God's query, \"Who shall I send?\" with, \"Lord, I am here. Send me\". The Old Testament prophet Isaiah is revered by both Jews and Christians, while the Quran, though not referencing him directly, is seen by some Islamic literature as acknowledging him as a prophet. Critics have labeled Hegseth's deployment of the biblical passage as blasphemous in the context of a military recruitment campaign.",
  "summary": "Hegseth slammed for 'blasphemous' use of bible passage in military recruitment drive US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has come under fire for a military “Send Me Tour” that draws on biblical verses and Christian scripture to recruit new soldiers. Hegseth visited Texas A&M University over the weekend as part of the tour, which is based on a well-known refrain from the Old Testament Book of Isaiah,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Hegseth slammed for 'blasphemous' use of bible passage in military recruitment drive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/hegseth-slammed-for-blasphemous-use-of-bible-passage-in-military",
        "published": "2026-09-21T19:03:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}