Power, Prophecy & Extremism

(Image: Erik Prince on the Shawn Ryan Show) The intricate interplay of Erik Prince’s geopolitical maneuvers, his ties to Pete Hegseth, and their alignment with Donald Trump’s orbit reveals a complex and troubling nexus of ambition, religious fervor, and extremist ideologies. This essay explores claims that Prince seeks to orchestrate a US invasion of Venezuela to establish himself as a quasi-ruler, contributing to a broader vision of a global police state. It examines the alleged “Israelization” of US policy since 9/11, the role of Israeli intelligence, and the Jeffrey Epstein saga as potential mechanisms of foreign influence. Additionally, it delves into the GOP-Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) alliance, which has fueled evangelical support for Trump despite his contradictions, aligning with a radical coalition of Israeli right-wingers, evangelical Christians, neo-Confederates, neo-Nazis, and figures like Hegseth and Dan Bongino, as well as right-wing militias like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. This coalition, predominantly Trump supporters, harbors extreme hostility toward Muslims and, post-Rapture Jews. The narrative weaves these threads into a broader discussion of power, prophecy, and the dangerous trajectory of US politics.

Neo-Crusaders

Erik Prince, born in 1969 in Holland, Michigan, is a polarizing figure whose founding of Blackwater, a private military company (PMC), defined his early career. Blackwater secured over $2 billion in US government contracts from 1997 to 2010, including $600 million in classified CIA deals, but became infamous after the 2007 Nisour Square massacre, where its contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians. After selling Blackwater in 2010, Prince launched ventures like Frontier Services Group, operating in resource-rich, unstable regions of Africa and Asia. These moves cemented his reputation as a shadow operator in global conflicts, leveraging PMCs for profit and influence.

Prince’s alleged ambitions extend to Venezuela, where critics claim he seeks to capitalize on a US invasion under a Trump administration and be military governor of the country. Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, the largest in the world, have long made it a target for US interests, with Trump openly discussing seizing its oil during his first term. In 2019, Prince reportedly met with a top aide to Nicolás Maduro, a move that raised suspicions of violating US sanctions but hinted at his interest in Venezuela’s resources or security contracts. Annexing Venezuela, as some speculate, would not only secure its oil but also advance a technocratic vision associated with figures like Elon Musk, who has advocated for a “Technate”—a governance model driven by technology and centralized control that extends from Venezuela in the south to Greenland in the north. Prince’s PMC expertise could facilitate such a project, positioning him as a key player in a technocratic, resource-driven empire. This ambition connects seamlessly to Prince’s ties within Trump’s inner circle, particularly with Pete Hegseth, whose evangelical militarism complements Prince’s strategic goals.

Pete Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, emerged as a key figure in Trump’s second administration, nominated as Secretary of Defense in 2024. A self-described “Christian Zionist,” Hegseth’s evangelical faith shapes his hawkish worldview, particularly his unwavering support for Israel. In a 2016 Jewish Press interview, he described Israel as “the story of God’s chosen people,” tying its geopolitical struggles to biblical prophecy. His nomination reflects Trump’s preference for loyalists over seasoned leaders.

Hegseth’s connection to Prince, while not explicitly documented, is evident through their shared alignment with Trump’s agenda and evangelical militarism. Both men advocate aggressive foreign policies, with Prince’s PMC background complementing Hegseth’s vision for a robust Pentagon. Their mutual ties to figures like Dan Bongino and right-wing militias like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers reveal a broader coalition. This coalition, including Israeli right-wingers, evangelical Christians, neo-Confederates, and neo-Nazis, shares a chilling willingness to eradicate Muslims, driven by a mix of religious, racial, and geopolitical animus. These groups view violence against Muslims as a step toward ideological purity, often framed as a defense of Western civilization.

Venezuela and the Technate Agenda

The claim that Prince seeks a US invasion of Venezuela to install himself as governor generalissimo is speculative but rooted in his track record and the strategic interests of Trump’s circle. Venezuela’s oil wealth has long been a fixation for US policymakers, with Trump in 2019 reportedly considering military action to “take” its resources. Prince’s 2019 meeting with a Maduro aide suggests he was probing opportunities, possibly for resource extraction or security contracts. A U.S. invasion, while not publicly endorsed by Prince, aligns with his advocacy for privatized military solutions and Hegseth’s hawkish stance on Latin American regimes.

Beyond oil, annexing Venezuela could serve a grander vision: the creation of a Technate, a concept born in the 1930s, of a technocratic society governed by data-driven systems and centralized control. The influence of Elon Musk (whose maternal grandfather was a 1930s technocrat) within Trump’s orbit, particularly through his role in shaping policy via X, suggests a synergy with Prince’s PMC model, where private forces could enforce a technocratic order in resource-rich regions. Prince’s African ventures, securing mining and security deals, offer a blueprint for exploiting a post-invasion Venezuela and the path toward a hemispheric police state.

This ambition ties into broader claims about US foreign policy’s trajectory, particularly the “Israelization” narrative, which connects Prince’s militarism, Hegseth’s Zionism, and the evangelical-right-wing coalition’s worldview.

The “Israelization” of US Policy Post-9/11

The concept of “Israelization” describes the US’s adoption of security practices resembling Israel’s since September 11, 2001, including mass surveillance, drone warfare, and militarized policing. The Patriot Act, NSA programs, and Blackwater’s CIA contracts epitomize this shift, mirroring Israel’s counterinsurgency tactics against Palestinian and regional threats. Prince’s Blackwater, with training facilities near Langley, played a key role in this ecosystem, deploying contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan in ways that echoed Israeli operations.

The allegation that Israeli intelligence knew of 9/11 and other attacks but withheld warnings to provoke US action against Muslim nations is a persistent conspiracy theory. The theory resonates with those who see Israel’s strategic interest in US wars against Iraq, Iran, and others as part of a plan to subjugate Muslim neighbors. 

Jeffrey Epstein and the Honeypot Hypothesis

Jeffrey Epstein’s connections to Israeli figures like Ehud Barak and his investment in Carbyne, a surveillance tech company linked to Israel’s Unit 8200, have fueled claims that he ran a military intelligence honeypot operation. Critics argue that Epstein’s trafficking of minors was designed to blackmail US politicians and celebrities into supporting Israeli interests, particularly its regional wars. His meetings with Barak and shareholders like Ari Harow suggest a nexus of influence, though no definitive evidence confirms a Mossad-orchestrated operation. 

The alignment of Epstein’s network with figures like Prince, who invested in Israeli tech, and evangelicals who view Israel as divinely ordained, creates a disturbing synergy. This culture finds its strongest expression in the GOP-SBC alliance, which has reshaped evangelical Christianity and its relationship with Trump.

The GOP-SBC Alliance and the Antichrist Paradox

The 1980 partnership between the Republican Party and the Southern Baptist Convention has galvanized evangelical support for Trump, despite his contradictions with Christian values. Trump’s rhetoric, marked by falsehoods and division, has led some to liken him to the antichrist of Revelation—a deceiver ushering in chaos. In Jesus' time, the COVID-19 pandemic during Trump's first term would have been seen as a sign from God, yet over 80% of evangelicals backed in 2020, as they had in 2016. They liken him to the Bible's King Cyrus, the "imperfect vessel" chosen and anointed to do God's work. As if...but the psychological reasoning may be that 1. Trump's subtext is always that America should be overwhelmingly white and Christian, and 2. he's always blaming and accusing whatever or whomever thwarts his desires. Both of these appeal to them because, rather than focus on the beam in their own eye, evangelicals tend to focus on the motes in others' eyes; on divergent people and supposed social evils that they think should be banned, echoing the evangelical fervor behind Prohibition a century ago, which made organized crime into a force so powerful, the government and intelligence agencies cooperate with certain groups, behind the scenes. The suffragettes and/or evangelicals who caused Prohibition may have been good-hearted and well-meaning, but they were so shortsighted, so unwise, that one must conclude that they were not very intelligent.

Evangelicals, Israel, and Apocalyptic Violence

Evangelical Christian Zionism, shared by Hegseth and millions of believers, views Israel’s restoration as a prelude to End-Times events. The 1948 establishment of Israel and its conflicts are seen as fulfilling prophecies in Daniel and Revelation, with the “Third Temple” movement signaling the Messiah’s return. This theology drives support for US policies like Trump’s Jerusalem embassy move.

The alignment of evangelicals with Israeli right-wingers, neo-Confederates, neo-Nazis, and militias, under the aegis of billionaire, neo-technocrat monarchists like Musk and Peter Thiel, creates a volatile coalition. These groups, united by their support for Trump, share a genocidal rhetoric against Muslims, viewing them as existential threats. 

Barbaric Convergence

Radley Balko is a journalist who covers policing, is the author of 'Rise of the Warrior Cop: The Militarization of America’s Police Forces,' and runs the newsletter 'The Watch,' where he tracks changes at ICE and the Trump administration’s law-and-order tactics. On an August 27 podcast, he said, “Trump is building his own paramilitary force.” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/27/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-radley-balko.html

The claims surrounding Erik Prince & Pete Hegseth and their ties to Trump’s agenda; Prince’s Venezuela ventures, potentially tied to a Technate vision, and his PMC history; Hegseth’s Christian Zionism and militia ties; the “Israelization” of American society, Epstein’s murky connections to intelligence operations to blackmail and influence politicians, celebrities and scientists; and the GOP-SBC alliance underscore a shift toward militarism and prophetic fervor, with Trump as figurehead...until he dies and JD Vance & RFK Jr. try to maintain the support of the MAGA base, although the US may already be a police state where the executive cannot be checked, by that time, especially if the Democrats don’t win majorities in November, 2026…if the administration doesn’t somehow co-opt or prevent the elections… Converging forces signal a troubling trajectory for American politics & society.