Attack on Hegseth

From: (Name withheld)
Date: June 5, 2026 at 5:30:53 PM MDT
To: [email protected]
Subject: Attack on Hegseth

You are a traitor and a heathen. The recognition of over 200 religions is the most ignorant and divisive thing I have ever heard.  You are a pure idiot. 

(Name withheld)
Free Florida

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Response from MRFF Advisory Board Member Mike Farrell

I see from your message to the MRFF that you have some strong feelings about something, I’m just not sure what it is.

Question 1: What did we do that you find traitorous? Isn’t our nation known for believing in the freedom of religion? If so, doesn’t that mean that whatever form that belief may take a person is free to subscribe to it, assuming, of course, that it doesn’t involve doing harm to another?

Question 2: Is there a religion or belief system that everyone should subscribe to in your mind?

Question 3: What exactly, is a “heathen” in your mind? And what have we done to incur that label from you?

Question 4: You’ve said someone here is a traitor, a heathen and an idiot. Are you having trouble making up your mind, or do you just puke out whatever epithet comes to mind when you lose control?

Question 5: What and where is “Free Florida”?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Mike Farrell (MRFF Board of Advisors)

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Response from MRFF Board Member John Compere

The United States military (Department of Defense, Department of Veteran Affairs, et al) has recognized over 200 faiths for many years because it represents the actual beliefs of present and past military men and women. Arbitrarily eliminating the recognition of a majority of them for partisan political purposes does not change the fact they exist and are the beliefs of military members. Such detrimental action damages the morale of our troops and degrades their freedom of religion provided by the United States Constitution, Department of Defense directives and Armed Forces regulations.

Mikey Weinstein, Founder and President of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, has tirelessly and effectively advocated over 20 years for the religious freedom of more than 100,000 military clients. That is the reason the Foundation has been nominated 8 times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Your hateful communication reflects only on yourself and indicates nothing more than your own ignorance and disrespect for the religious freedom of our American military members.

John Compere
Brigadier General, US Army (Retired)
Board Member, Military Religious Freedom Foundation

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Response from MRFF supporter Mike Challman

Good Day, (Name withheld), – 

I expect that you may have heard from others already, but I’d like to add my two cents.  I’m a donor and volunteer with MRFF and always happy to engage with critics in general, and particularly interested in this case because your brief email raises several questions in my mind. 

My first question – What is it about criticizing Hegseth that makes Mikey a “traitor”?  Surely you know that freedom of speech is enshrined in the Bill of Rights.  More importantly, surely you know that stifling the free exchange of ideas, including those with which one may disagree, is about as un-American as one can get.  You seem to have a very narrow and mis-shapen view of patriotism.

My second question – What is it about Mikey that makes him a “heathen”?  I can only surmise that you have concluded that he doesn’t share your particular religious viewpoint.  Still, you have a right to express your opinion because, you know, Bill of Rights, free exchange of ideas, and all that.  Still, it seems an odd and toothless accusation to throw around, and I don’t think it gives you the traction in a public discourse that you think it does.

My third question – What is your objection to the number of religions that were recognized prior to Hegseth’s most recent (of many), misguided action?  I wonder if there is some other number that you feel is more accurate.  I wonder if you feel there is a maximum number of religious beliefs or expressions… and if there is, I wonder if that number is one (your own religious belief).  Most of all, I wonder why it matters to you at all what other people believe.

Happy to engage further with you on these topics… assuming the purpose of your brief email was not just to be a troll.

Peace,

Mike Challman
Patriot, Christian, Veteran, Blue Star Dad, and MRFF Supporter

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