James Talarico, the Texas Democratic state representative and Presbyterian seminarian, has said he forgives Pete Hegseth’s pastor for praying for his death. On Tuesday, Texas’s popular Democratic nominee for a US Senate seat pushed back against comments from Brooks Potteiger, the defense secretary’s closest spiritual adviser, who said: “We want him crucified with Christ.”
Talarico said on X: “Jesus loves. Christian Nationalism kills. You may pray for my death, Pastor, but I still love you. I love you more than you could ever hate me.”
The 36-year-old’s response comes after Potteiger wished for his death last on a Christian nationalist podcast called Reformation Red Pill, which Hegseth has appeared on several times. Potteiger had joined a discussion about Talarico with podcast host Joshua Haymes, a former pastoral intern at Potteiger’s church who previously claimed that the Bible is “pro-ICE raids”.
Speaking on the podcast, Haymes said: “First and foremost, we pray that a man like this would be cut to the heart,” adding: “This is where you have imprecatory psalms. This is where you pray strongly … The psalmist is not shy. God, destroy them. Make them as dung on the ground.”
Haymes went on to say: “I pray that God kills him … Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ.”
I’ve honestly watched Talarico a lot in the past 2 years. James Talarico, at least behaves like a Christian in the public eye…not an evangelical Christian nationalist, but like an actual follower of Christ. He speaks against Christian nationalism, for separating church and state, and most of all, equal rights for everyone…no matter their color, race, religion, or sexual preference. He is, at least outwardly, what Christians are supposed to act like. I can’t say as far as privately, as I’ve never met the man. However, he seems to actually follow Christ first and man last…just the opposite of the MAGA Klan.