Hegseth ties Iran rescue to Easter story and Jesus Christ: 'A pilot reborn'

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2026 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Legal Statement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by LSEG. During President Donald Trump's press conference on the airman rescue mission, Hegseth compared it to Jesus' resurrection, saying the pilot had a spiritual experience. Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth drew parallels between the rescue mission of an Air Force officer shot down in Iran on Good Friday and Jesus Christ's death and resurrection. Hegseth spoke Monday during President Donald Trump's press conference centered on the Easter weekend rescue mission. He described how the airman "evaded capture for more than a day, scaling rugged ridges while hunted by the enemy." "When he was finally able to activate his emergency transponder, his first message was simple and it was powerful. He sent a message: 'God is good,'" Hegseth said. "In that moment of isolation and danger, his faith and fighting spirit shone through." Hegseth continued to describ