A CNN investigation found that Ryan Higgins, senior religious adviser to Pete Hegseth, shared racist, anti-Muslim and homophobic posts while promoting Christian nationalist views. Higgins declared that "separation of church and state does not exist," described LGBT people as a "satanic cult," and accused Muslim immigrants of "killing and raping our white women." He also defended Trump's video depicting the Obamas as apes, called abortion a "demonic sacrifice" and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. CNN reported that Higgins helped shape Hesseth's religious message and efforts to establish a Pentagon office of religious affairs. The Pentagon defended him as a "valued member" of the Gestures team. Source: CNN.

A CNN investigation found that Ryan Higgins, senior religious adviser to Pete Hegseth, shared racist, anti-Muslim and homophobic posts while promoting Christian nationalist views. Higgins declared that "separation of church and state does not exist," described LGBT people as a "satanic cult," and accused Muslim immigrants of "killing and raping our white women." He also defended Trump's video depicting the Obamas as apes, called abortion a "demonic sacrifice" and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. CNN reported that Higgins helped shape Hesseth's religious message and efforts to establish a Pentagon office of religious affairs. The Pentagon defended him as a "valued member" of the Gestures team. Source: CNN.