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"President Trump has been anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth.”
As of March 2026, over 200 U.S. service members have filed complaints with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) alleging that military commanders used this specific language to describe the war in Iran. The reports, first detailed by independent journalist Jonathan Larsen, state that some commanders told their units that strikes on Iran are part of "God's divine plan" and that President Trump was "anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon".
Key details regarding these allegations include:
"Scope of Complaints: The MRFF reports receiving complaints from more than 40 different units across at least 30 military installations, spanning all branches including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force.
*Nature of the Rhetoric: Commanders allegedly cited the New Testament's Book of Revelation to frame the conflict as a biblically sanctioned step toward the end times and the return of Jesus Christ.
*Impact on Troops: Service members of various faiths, including Christians, Muslims, and Jews, have expressed that such rhetoric undermines morale, violates the separation of church and state, and conflicts with their constitutional oaths.
*Official Response: The Pentagon has not publicly issued guidance framing the Iran campaign in religious terms and did not immediately respond to requests for comment on these specific allegations.
*Context: The complaints emerge amid reports of expanded evangelical programming within the Pentagon under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, including prayer sessions and Bible studies.