Evangelical pastor Brooks Potteiger —who serves as a pastor for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — was caught wishing for the crucification of James Talarico — the Texas Congressman who defeated Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett in the Democratic primary election earlier this month to become the state’s Democratic Senate Candidate.
While appearing on Joshua Haymes‘ Reformation Red Pill podcast last week, Potteiger made his jaw-dropping claims. In the episode — titled, “James Talarico Believes Christians are Idiots. Is He Right?” — Potteiger said he wanted Talarico, 36, to be “crucified with Christ.”
Now, Talarico is also a Presbyterian seminarian who previously made some controversial comments about religion. In 2021, he claimed that “God is nonbinary.”
During Potteiger’s 18-minute podcast interview with Haymes, he reacted to other clips of Talarico talking about religion. Talarico claimed “pro-choice” is “absolutely consistent” with Christianity, and he defended the transgender community in Texas. He claimed it’s “something we have to do every day.”
RELATED: James Talarico Defeats Jasmine Crockett In Texas Democratic U.S. Senate Primary
Evangelical Pastor Brooks Potteiger Calls For ‘Crucification’ Of Texas Dem Senate Candidate James Talarico
Reacting to Talarico’s comments, Haymes called him a “demon” and a “snake,” and Potteiger called him a “wolf.” The pastor added, “He is presenting himself as a Christian in order to distort what Christianity is and to lead people away from Christ towards the teachings of demons.”
Haymes continued to claim, “First and foremost we pray that a man like this would be cut to the heart.” He also placed Talarico in the category of “public enemies,” or those you “are not called to love.” He added, “I pray that God kills him. Ultimately, that means killing his heart and raising him up to new life in Christ.”
Potteiger agreed and added, “Right. Right. We want him crucified with Christ. I want him to be I think Saul of Tarsus. Talarico of Tarsus. Yes. That’s what I want.” Haymes continued to share, “Yes, we want death and new life. And if it would not be within God’s will to do so, stop him by any means necessary.”
After the viral podcast comments, a spokesperson for Potteiger’s church told the Daily Beast that “Pastor Potteiger did not ‘call’ for [Talarico’s] death,” instead, “he prayed for his conversion. That’s what ‘crucified with Christ’ means biblically.“
On his X account, Potteiger continued to deny claims of him calling for Talarico’s death. He called out headlines claiming so “untrue.” Meanwhile, Talarico responded to the viral clips of Potteiger and Haymes and said, “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.”
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