A CNN investigation found that Ryan Higgins, a senior religious adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made racist, anti-Muslim and homophobic comments while promoting Christian nationalist views. Higgins declared that "there is no separation between religion and state", described LGBT people as an "evil cult", and accused Muslim immigrants of "murdering and raping our white women". He also defended a video Trump released depicting the Obamas as monkeys, called abortion "an evil human sacrifice" and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. CNN reported that Higgins helped shape Hesseth's religious messages and his efforts to establish an office of religious affairs at the Pentagon. The Pentagon defended him as an "invaluable member" of the Gesteth team.

A CNN investigation found that Ryan Higgins, a senior religious adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, made racist, anti-Muslim and homophobic comments while promoting Christian nationalist views. Higgins declared that "there is no separation between religion and state", described LGBT people as an "evil cult", and accused Muslim immigrants of "murdering and raping our white women". He also defended a video Trump released depicting the Obamas as monkeys, called abortion "an evil human sacrifice" and promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. CNN reported that Higgins helped shape Hesseth's religious messages and his efforts to establish an office of religious affairs at the Pentagon. The Pentagon defended him as an "invaluable member" of the Gesteth team.