JD Vance has publicly addressed the escalating conflict between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, advising the pontiff to refrain from intervening in American political affairs following the pope’s criticisms of the U.S. administration regarding the Iran war.
In an interview with Fox News on Monday night, Vance, a Catholic convert, suggested that the Vatican should focus on moral issues within the Catholic Church while allowing the U.S. president to manage domestic policies. “It would be best for the Vatican to concentrate on matters of morality and let the president dictate American public policy,” he stated.
The tension between Trump and the first pope born in the United States intensified over the weekend after Pope Leo XIV, during evening prayers at St. Peter’s Basilica, remarked on the “delusion of omnipotence” surrounding the Iran conflict. He urged an end to “the idolatry of self and money,” and called for peace, implicitly criticizing U.S. and Israeli leaders involved in the war.
Trump expressed his displeasure through a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform, accusing the pope of being “weak on crime” and “catering to the radical left.” He also shared an AI-generated meme portraying himself in a Christ-like manner, which sparked outrage from both supporters and critics, leading to its eventual removal.
In response to the pope’s declaration that he would not shy away from opposing the Trump administration’s stance on war, Vance downplayed the controversy, suggesting that differing opinions on public policy are natural and not particularly noteworthy. “We can respect the pope and maintain a good relationship with the Vatican, but disagreements on substantive issues are to be expected,” he remarked.
When pressed about Trump’s claim that the pope’s views could be detrimental to the Catholic Church, Vance emphasized the president’s responsibility to prioritize American interests in foreign and immigration policies, acknowledging that this might lead to differing views with the Vatican. “Sometimes it would be best for the Vatican to focus on moral issues, but when conflicts arise, they arise. I don’t worry about it too much,” he added.
Following the backlash against Trump’s AI-generated image, the White House responded by removing the post. Some of Trump’s most devoted Christian supporters expressed their disapproval, with one describing the image as “disgusting and unacceptable,” and another labeling it as “outrageous blasphemy.”
During a White House event on Monday, Trump took responsibility for the post, asserting that he intended to depict himself as a doctor rather than a religious figure, despite the image’s resemblance to a religious setting.
Vance defended Trump’s decision to delete the meme, stating that it was not solely a reaction to criticism but rather a recognition that many did not grasp the humor. “The president enjoys engaging directly with the public on social media, without going through a filter,” he concluded.
