--- title: "Pentagon adviser Ryan Higgins' online posts draw scrutiny" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-10-27T22:05:08.990Z" source_reported: "2026-10-27T20:06:52.335Z" updated: "2026-10-27T22:05:08.990Z" trust_score: 42 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 65 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-28T00:00:45.210143+00:00" --- # Pentagon adviser Ryan Higgins' online posts draw scrutiny *Reports detail adviser's history of sharing views described as racist and homophobic.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. The central claim rests on anonymous sourcing from CNN, with no named on-the-record sources or documents. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. The article quotes affected parties and names specific details, but lacks a right of reply for those accused. - Hype 65 of 100, lower is better. The headline uses loaded adjectives like 'Satanic Cult' and 'Racist Views' which are not directly quoted. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Ryan Higgins, a senior adviser to Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, has a history of sharing online views described as racist, homophobic, and conspiratorial. - Higgins is credited with developing the Defense Department's religious messaging and the 'Office of Religious Affairs'. - His online posts include references to a 'satanic cult of LGBTQ' and concerns about illegal immigrants 'raping our white women'. - A Pentagon spokesperson called a report detailing these posts a 'pathetic attempt to slander' Higgins. Ryan Higgins, a senior adviser to Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, has shared online posts containing views described as racist, homophobic, and conspiratorial. Multiple sources credit Higgins with developing the Defense Department's religious messaging and the creation of the 'Office of Religious Affairs'. Higgins posted on X about the 'satanic cult of LGBTQ' and made comments about illegal immigrants 'raping our white women'. He also expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of US elections, stating he has '0 percent faith in our elections'. ## Pentagon response Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell described a CNN report detailing Higgins' posts as 'a pathetic attempt to slander' Higgins. Parnell stated the report was designed to distract from the work the Department is carrying out. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports below mention the specific date of the CNN investigation into Ryan Higgins' online posts, only that it was published on October 27. The reports also do not include the specific number of followers Higgins has on X, only that he has '14,000 followers' according to OK! Magazine. ## Who covered it Shares of the 8 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 88% (7) - Centre: 12% (1) - Right: 0% (0) 2 of 10 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-28T00:00:45.210143+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 9 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-28T00:15:14.856Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated report from OK! Magazine led with the assertion that the man shaping the Pentagon's religious agenda has a lengthy history of sharing racist, homophobic, and conspiratorial views online. It detailed Higgins' posts about the 'satanic cult of LGBTQ' and illegal immigrants 'raping our white women'. The report also highlighted his skepticism about US election legitimacy, stating he has '0 percent faith in our elections'. It noted Higgins does not disclose his Pentagon position on his X account, where he shares far-right and white nationalist rhetoric. The outlet also mentioned that Pentagon officials downplayed Higgins' influence. ### Centre No separate framing summary. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 2 - high: 4 - unknown: 3 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/1ac2ebcf372e3494) — A top Hegseth faith adviser embodies the racist rot at the Pentagon - [OK! Magazine](https://okmagazine.com/p/pentagon-adviser-pete-hegseth-religious-agenda-satanic-cult-lgbtq) — Pentagon Adviser Behind Pete Hegseth’s Religious Agenda Complains About a 'Satanic Cult of LGBTQ' and Shares Racist Views - [RadarOnline](https://radaronline.com/p/pete-hegseths-faith-adviser-ryan-higgins-accused-of-racist-homophobic-conspiracy-theories) — Pete Hegseth's Faith Adviser Accused of Spreading 'Racist and Homophobic Conspiracy Theories' in Social Media Posts - [koutipandoras.gr](https://koutipandoras.gr/article/ratsistis-symvoulos-hegseth) — Ryan Higgins: The Racist and Misogynistic "Religious" Pentagon Advisor Behind Hegseth and His Delusional Speeches | Pandora's Box - [Joe.My.God.](https://joemygod.com/2026/10/cnn-hegseths-senior-faith-advisor-shared-scores-of-racist-homophobic-anti-immigrant-conspiracy-posts) — CNN: Hegseth's Senior Faith Advisor Shared Scores Of Racist, Homophobic, Anti-Immigrant, Conspiracy Posts - [IndexHR](https://index.hr/vijesti/clanak/hegsethov-vjerski-savjetnik-odvajanje-crkve-i-drzave-ne-postoji/2850406.aspx) — Hegseth's Religious Advisor: This Is a Christian Nation, LGBTQ Is a Satanic Cult - [Esquire](https://esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a74262259/pete-hegseth-christian-nationalist-lackey) — Pete Hegseth Hired a Christian Nationalist Lackey to Help Realize His Dream of an American Holy War - [The New Republic](https://newrepublic.com/post/217210/pete-hegseth-faith-adviser-social-media-comments) — Hegseth Faith Adviser’s Disgusting Social Media Comments Exposed - [Raw Story](https://rawstory.com/ryan-higgins-pentagon) — ‘Killing and raping our white women’: Disturbing posts from Hegseth aide come to light - [CNN](https://cnn.com/2026/10/27/politics/pete-hegseth-adviser-posts-invs) — Pete Hegseth’s faith adviser shared racist, homophobic posts ## Questions **Who is Ryan Higgins and what is his role?** Ryan Higgins is a senior adviser to Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. He is credited with developing the Defense Department's religious messaging and the 'Office of Religious Affairs'. **What kind of online posts has Ryan Higgins shared?** Higgins has shared posts described as racist, homophobic, and conspiratorial. These include comments about a 'satanic cult of LGBTQ', illegal immigrants 'raping our white women', and skepticism about US election legitimacy. **How has the Pentagon responded to the scrutiny of Higgins' posts?** Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called a report detailing Higgins' posts a 'pathetic attempt to slander' him. He stated the report was intended to distract from the Department's work. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Pentagon adviser Ryan Higgins' online posts draw scrutiny", https://mediabias.news/politics/pentagon-adviser-ryan-higgins-online-posts-draw-scrutiny