Part 4/9:
As the criticisms evolved, they began to target Hegseth's religious beliefs. A recently published article by Politico besmirched his Christianity, insinuating that he was attempting to transform the U.S. military into a "Christian weapon," with alarming comparisons to the Taliban. Such sensationalist rhetoric shifted the conversation from legitimate criticisms to outright mischaracterization and fear-mongering regarding Hegseth’s faith and its impact on military ethics.