Defense Secretary Pete Hegeth disparaged the press during a press briefing on the war with Iran, accusing reporters of publishing an “endless stream of garbage” and likening them to people in the Bible who sought to destroy Jesus.

“Even though they witnessed a literal miracle, it didn’t matter. They were only there to explain away the goodness in pursuit of their agenda,” he said of the Pharisees, a group that scrutinized Jesus.

“I sat there in church and I thought, our press are just like these Pharisees. Not all of you, but the legacy, Trump-hating press,” he said. “Your politically motivated animus for President Trump nearly completely blinds you from the brilliance of our American warriors.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth speaks as Adm. Brad Cooper, the leader of U.S. Central Command, listens during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Thursday.

Alex Wong via Getty Images

Hegseth’s likening of President Donald Trump to Jesus follows the president posting an image of himself on social media that depicted him as Jesus Christ, and Trump launching an attack against the pope for not supporting his war efforts.

“I would ask you to open your eyes to the goodness, the historic success of our troops. The courage of this president and this historic moment for a deal that could end the Iranian nuclear threat,” he said before going on to liken successes during the war to “miracles.”

Hegseth earlier started his attack by accusing reporters of being “incredibly unpatriotic” with their reporting on the ongoing war with Iran.

“I just can’t help but notice the endless stream of garbage, the relentlessly negative coverage you cannot resist peddling, despite the historic and important success of this effort and the success of our troops,” he said. “Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on. It’s incredibly unpatriotic.”

Minutes after Hegseth’s briefing, Pope Leo XIV spoke out against manipulating religion in a statement on X.

“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic, and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth,” his post read.