A Democrat congressional hopeful in a highly competitive race is encountering fierce criticism following the emergence of a video where she recounted her involvement in a wedding ceremony for a couple who openly identified as satanists.
Sarah Trone Garriott, challenging Zach Nunn in Iowa’s crucial 3rd Congressional District, has faced scrutiny regarding comments in which she detailed officiating the wedding while serving as a Lutheran minister.
The controversy revolves around her remarks about a couple from her church community who described themselves as satanists. In the resurfaced footage, Garriott explained that she decided to assist with the ceremony, considering it a part of her ministry and outreach duties.
“He asked me to pick the Scriptures,” Trone Garriott recalled, referring to the pastor in charge. “Irritated, I flipped through the Bible. Should I pick something with Satan in it to make them feel more at home?”
“Eventually, I just put the bookmark in at 1 Corinthians 13,” she noted. “If you have ever been to a Christian wedding, you’ve probably heard this Scripture. All they would get from me was [a] basic Lutheran wedding.”
“When the Apostle Paul wrote these words, he certainly never envisioned a small town in West Virginia, two satanists and a Lutheran pastor in training. But Paul understood people, and despite the centuries, they really haven’t changed much. It’s tough to love one another. We often need reminders.”
WATCH:
WATCH: Iowa Democrat congressional candidate Sarah Trone Garriott — a Christian minister — gushes about officiating a Satanist wedding: https://t.co/YSmudHCdfM pic.twitter.com/V5E9bXpS1M
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) April 20, 2026
As she competes against incumbent Rep. Zach Nunn in what is seen as a toss-up election, Republicans have already seized on Garriott’s past statements and positions, arguing they contradict the Christian values she claims to uphold.
Nunn has previously criticized his Democratic opponent, stating, “She’s made it clear that the values Iowa families hold dear are the ones she’s running against.”
During the storytelling event, Trone Garriott reflected that the couple mistakenly believed they needed a church venue while showing disregard for core Christian principles.
“These individuals could barely tolerate us. They had little respect for what mattered to us,” she shared.
Despite her concerns, Trone Garriott mentioned that the ceremony continued, and she recited the passage, “Love is patient; love is kind.” She described the groom, who had a pentagram tattoo on his face, as appearing emotional.
“Was he getting teary?” she pondered. “They had a lot of baggage between them, but the way they looked at each other was undeniable.”
“So what happened to that couple? I have no idea,” she concluded. “We never saw them again.”
In response to the backlash, her campaign defended her statement, clarifying to Fox News that she was merely following the guidance of her supervising pastor at that time.
“As a minister in training, Sarah adhered to the direction of her supervising pastor and had no authority over who entered the church — it was her role to minister to everyone, including those whose beliefs differed from hers.”
The campaign added, “Like many Iowa Christians, Sarah’s faith compels her to love thy neighbor, following Jesus’ example of embracing grace for all.”
