Colin Jost Says SNL Rejected Pete Hegseth’s Joke While Reading ‘Pulp Fiction’ Bible Verse

Donald Trump’s Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was widely mocked in April after reading a fake Bible verse from Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 classic “Pulp Fiction” during a worship service at the Pentagon. It turns out that Colin Jost kind of saw it coming.

During a recent visit to “The Tonight Show,” Jost revealed that before Hegseth’s viral blunder, he told the “SNL” writers’ room, “Would it be funny if Hegseth just did that Bible verse they have in ‘Pulp Fiction,’ remember, Ezekiel, Samuel L. Jackson?”

The writers slammed Jost’s pitch, calling it “too ridiculous” and claiming it would “take all this time out in the open.” And then he actually did it, like two weeks later, and I thought, ‘Well, the good news is that I’m being watched, so that’s a relief.'” Jost played Hegseth on “SNL” this season to great acclaim from critics and viewers.

The real Hegseth was at a Pentagon prayer service in April when he read the modified version of Ezekiel 25:17 that is read by Samuel L. Jackson’s character in “Pulp Fiction” before he shoots a man. Hegseth said the prayer was recited by the “Sandy 1” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission in Iran.

Calling everyone to pray with him, Hegseth then read a prayer that matched almost word for word Jackson’s line in Tarantino’s film: “The path of the downed kite is beset on all sides by the inequality of the selfish and the tyranny of wicked men. Blessed is he who in the name of fellowship and duty guides the lost through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother’s keeper and the finder of lost children.” And I will strike down upon you with great vengeance and wrath those who seek to capture and destroy my brother, and you shall know that my call sign is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon you.

Watch Jost’s full interview on “The Tonight Show” in the video below.