‘Bring back public executions’: Pete Hegseth’s ex-pastor has unveiled his immigration ‘solution’

The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has drawn attention for his ties to a former pastor, Joshua Haymes.

Haymes hosts a podcast that Hegseth has repeatedly promoted, likely due to Haymes being a pastoral intern at Hegseth’s church. He has recently expressed a number of extreme positions on his podcast and social media. His views include support for public executions, a belief that the Bible backs ICE raids, and an embrace of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory.

Haymes is a member of the Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, a church affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches, and he uses his podcast, Reformation Red Pill, to advocate for the group’s theological positions. Hegseth has not only appeared on four episodes of the podcast but has also boosted Haymes’s social media content, encouraging his followers to listen to an episode discussing whether they should join a CREC church.

The defense secretary has said that his move to the area and joining this church community has “changed the way we think too.” It’s not gone well for Hegseth lately, and it may get worse thanks to his ties to this pastor. According to The Guardian, a Pentagon spokesperson has stated that Hegseth “is a proud member of a church that is affiliated with the Congregation of Reformed Evangelical Churches which was founded by Pastor Doug Wilson. He is a very proud Christian and has those traditional Christian viewpoints.”

Pete Hegseths former pastor is calling for executions

On his podcast, Haymes has argued that the Bible is in favor of ICE raids, claiming that it does not require wealthy Christian nations to “self immolate” for having a flourishing economy. He has also said that the Bible does not permit the government to use citizen money to pay for foreign nationals who will “destroy our culture.”

Haymes linked these ideas to a version of the “great replacement” conspiracy theory, stating that mass immigration is a design by “liberal globalists” to destroy “Anglo Protestant culture” and to replace the white voting population with “non Christian, non white people.” A co-host of a podcast that is critical of Christian nationalism has said that these are classic white supremacist talking points.

Haymes’s views on capital punishment are particularly severe. On social media, he has advocated for public executions for a range of perceived offenses, including abortion and adultery. In one post, he said, “Public executions are Biblical. Therefore public executions are good. Therefore we should bring back public executions.”

He has also expressed regret over the demise of the Confederacy, referring to it as a constitutional matter. On X, he has reposted content from a white nationalist leader and stated his agreement that “diversity is not our strength.” He has also called homosexuality “uniquely evil” and hinted that Nashville Pride marchers should be drowned, referencing a biblical passage about millstones and the sea.