Sen. Jacky Rosen to Hegseth: Hurtful, Problematic, Anti-Semitic To Call People “Historically Weaponized” Term Like “Pharisees”
Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen called Secretary Pete Hegseth to task for an extended metaphor he used comparing critics of the administration to “Pharisees” — the Jewish elites who opposed Christ in the bible.
Hegseth: “Our Press Are Just Like The Pharisees,” Your Hatred For Trump Blinds You To “Miraculous” War Success
“The Pharisees scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation-only looking for the negative. The hardened hearts of our press are calibrated only to impugn.” pic.twitter.com/cdBqfTcaYh
– RealClearPolitics (@RCPolitics) April 16, 2026
SEN. JACKY ROSEN (D-NV): I have just a few seconds left, but- You keep doubling down on this phrase, Mr. Secretary. You compare journalists, you compare us, you compare so many to Pharisees. Pharisees is a problematic and historically weaponized term that casts Jewish communities as hypocritical or morally corrupt. You doubled down again and said it. Words matter. Words matter-what you choose to say, how we choose to say it. How do you justify using this language as Secretary of Defense? It’s a historically hurtful term. Why do you continue to use it, and what actions are you taking to prevent rhetoric like this from permeating throughout the department that is going to target specific groups or individuals of people based on their religion? PETE HEGSETH, U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE: Senator, I feel like it’s a pretty accurate term for folks who don’t see the plank in their own eye and always want to see what’s wrong with an operation, as opposed to the historic success of preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. So I stand by it. SEN. JACKY ROSEN: You stand by calling people Pharisees? Sir, I cannot-I cannot stand for that. That is wrong. It is not respectful to people, and I expect anyone who is in leadership in our country to be respectful and use respectful terms-and not be an anti-Semite.
