Many US Catholics are dismayed by Trump's unprecedented broadside at the first American pope [View all]

Source: AP

Updated 7:53 PM EDT, April 13, 2026


WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of U.S. Catholic voters supported Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential victory. Yet across the broad Catholic political spectrum – even among conservative-leaning bishops – there is dismay over Trump’s unprecedented verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead their church.

Leo says he is sharing a Gospel message and not directly attacking Trump or anyone else with his appeals for peace and criticism of attitudes fueling the war. Criticism of Trump came from Archbishop Paul Coakley, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and from Minnesota-based Bishop Robert Barron, who only a few days ago was applauding Trump as an Easter guest at the White House. Barron called the president’s remarks “entirely inappropriate and disrespectful” and urged him to apologize.

The dismay extended into an even more solid base of Trump support — conservative Christian evangelicals. Many were appalled that Trump followed his Truth Social attack on Leo by posting an image depicting himself as a Christ-like savior. “TAKE THIS DOWN, MR. PRESIDENT,” posted David Brody, a prominent Trump-supporting commentator with the Christian Broadcasting Network. “You’re not God. None of us are. This goes too far. It crosses the line.”

By midday Monday, the image had been taken down from Truth Social. And speaking at the White House, the president claimed that he never intended to liken himself to Jesus when he posted the picture. “How did they come up with that?” he asked. “It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better. And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/pope-leo-donald-trump-us-catholic-evangelicals-0174639c0ec378d90e0a91321fbe3f2c

---

These 45-voting Catholics didn't give a shit about the fact that he didn't care about their religion and its core beliefs, only their politicization of it for a single issue.