The Tension Between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV: A Review Based on Recent Developments
In spring 2026, the tension between US President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV drew public attention. In early April, Pope Leo XIV openly criticized the US-Israel war against Iran. Trump's response on the Truth Social platform, including statements the Pope called "unacceptable" and posts of controversial AI-generated images, deepened this tension. On May 4th, Trump accused the Pope of supporting Iran having nuclear weapons, which the Vatican immediately denied, stating that the Catholic Church consistently opposes nuclear weapons and advocates resolving conflicts through dialogue.
A joint poll by The Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos shows nearly 60% of the US public negatively rated Trump's statements. Support for him dropped from 45% in February 2025 to 37%, with a significant decline among Catholic voters, from 63% to 49%. The survey also revealed 70% of US Catholics support the Pope's call for peace, while 61% reject Trump's nuclear-related statements.
Within the Republican Party, criticism emerged from figures like Senators John Thune and Kevin Cramer, who suggested distancing from this issue, while Senator Mike Rounds considered attacking the Pope inappropriate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of the Democratic Party stated Trump had reached "a new low." Analysis indicates this tension could potentially impact support from key voters in the fall midterm elections, diverting focus from domestic economic issues.
https://www.gelora.co/2026/05/