Overview
- Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said calls to pray for U.S. troops reflect the nation’s Judeo‑Christian values and long tradition of wartime prayer.
- Pope Leo XIV had warned that Jesus rejects war and does not hear the prayers of those who wage it, urging peace and protection for civilians.
- Leavitt underscored visible faith in government communications by noting her team prayed before the briefing began.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has led official prayer services and used combative religious language, including a plea for “overwhelming violence,” drawing constitutional objections and lawsuits.
- The coverage split was clear, with Times Now emphasizing the White House’s values-based defense and MS NOW detailing concerns about Christian nationalism and legal pushback as the Iran conflict continues.