Two Trump administration cabinet members are making headlines with their decisions to rehang controversial religious and historical paintings at U.S. military academies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has vowed to return a massive Jesus painting to the Merchant Marine Academy, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth plans to rehang a 20-foot portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at West Point.
Duffy, a former reality TV personality who now serves as transportation secretary, gained attention when he announced plans to restore an enormous painting of Jesus to the administrative building at the Merchant Marine Academy. The painting had previously been moved to the academy's chapel in 2023 following intervention by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF), which acted on behalf of a group that included academy alumni, midshipmen, faculty, and staff members.
Not to be outdone in generating controversy, Hegseth, a former Fox News host now serving as defense secretary, has identified his own provocative artwork to reinstall. The painting in question is a striking 20-foot tall portrait of Robert E. Lee depicted in his Confederate uniform, complete with an enslaved person that Lee was fighting to keep in bondage. This particular artwork represents one of the most thoroughly offensive pieces Hegseth could have chosen for such a prominent display.
The Robert E. Lee portrait was originally unveiled in West Point's library in 1952, during the height of segregation, Jim Crow laws, and the white supremacist Lost Cause movement. This historical movement sought to romanticize the Confederacy and rewrite Civil War history to downplay slavery as the primary cause of the conflict. The timing of the original installation was no coincidence, occurring during a period when racial tensions and systematic discrimination were at their peak.
Critics argue that Duffy's restoration of the giant Jesus painting represents straightforward Christian nationalism, while Hegseth's decision to rehang the Confederate general's portrait completes what some describe as the "totalitarian trinity" of White Christian nationalism. The combination of these two actions has sparked intense debate about the appropriate role of religious and historical imagery in government institutions, particularly military academies.
Both cabinet members have faced questions about their qualifications for their respective positions, with critics noting that Duffy's background in reality television and Hegseth's experience as a Fox News host may not traditionally qualify them for such significant government roles. However, both have proceeded with their controversial art restoration plans despite widespread criticism from various advocacy groups and concerned citizens.
The Military Religious Freedom Foundation, which successfully challenged the Jesus painting's placement at the Merchant Marine Academy, continues to monitor these developments closely. The organization has built a reputation for defending the constitutional principle of separation of church and state within military institutions, often acting on behalf of service members and academy personnel who feel uncomfortable with religious displays in government buildings.
These artistic controversies reflect broader cultural and political divisions within American society, particularly regarding the role of Christian imagery in public spaces and the commemoration of Confederate figures. The decisions by both secretaries have reignited debates about historical memory, religious freedom, and the values that should be represented in institutions that train future military leaders.
