Pete Hegseth quotes Pulp Fiction passage during Pentagon prayer

Pentagon official Pete Hegseth read wording that closely matches Samuel L. Jackson's Ezekiel monologue from Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction at a Pentagon prayer service. The Hollywood Reporter and video posted to Instagram identified the excerpt as Tarantino's fictional passage, not actual biblical text. The Pulp Fiction monologue includes language about 'the righteous man' and retributive violence, and outlets noted Hegseth presented those lines as scripture rather than as film dialogue. The substitution prompted media scrutiny over how ceremonial remarks are vetted at Pentagon events.