Trump vs. Pope Leo XIV: Who Will Win? Wait for the Midterm Results.

This should provide some relief to Iranians: it’s not just the Ayatollah that Trump cannot get along with; he has a problem with the Pope as well. That’s two major religious leaders, representing billions of followers, who consider Trump a maniacal warmonger and a danger to the civilized world.

Add to that Trump’s ever-growing list of disgruntled former allies, like UK’s Starmer, France’s Macron, the EU’s Ursula von der Leyen, Germany’s Merz, Italy’s Meloni, and even the Polish Parliamentary Speaker Czarzasty, who all view Trump as a 5-alarm fire ready to burn down everything in his path and wish to put as much distance as possible between themselves and him.

The latest incident that has even the most immoral and opportunistic politicians scurrying for cover is Trump’s verbal attack on the Pope. The Pope! Let that sink in. It was one thing to insult Muslim leaders, Islamic scholars, and even the Creator, “Allah” Himself; the Western world could understand, and even applaud, such rhetoric. But to insult a Catholic Pope? That crosses a line. It’s unforgivable!

Back Story:

The trouble began on Tuesday, April 7, when Trump threatened Iran with total “destruction of its civilization…tonight.” This was a bit too much, even for Trump’s most dedicated supporters who had previously smiled and nodded at his Islamophobic and toxic antics. This time, it was different. The threat extended beyond Iran, serving as a warning to other American ‘Muslim’ allies in the region that they could be on this madman’s menu next.

The right-wing media also recognized the danger. A flurry of reports emerged, urging Trump to tone down his rhetoric. However, regardless of opinions, one thing is clear: Trump is not easily coachable. Feeling interrupted in his messaging, he decided to wait for the right moment to respond. Unfortunately for the Pope, he chose this particular time to make his comments. Pope Leo, known for his outspoken criticism of war, directly condemned Trump’s harsh language, stating, “Today, as we all know, there was this threat against the entire people of Iran, and this is truly unacceptable.” He further expressed on social media that disciples of Christ are “never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life.”

Unaccustomed to being criticized, and not the type to read lengthy tweets from others, Trump saw the Pope’s remarks as a direct affront to his “royal” authority. In a lengthy social media post, Trump labeled the Pope “weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy,” warning that he is a “radical leftist” as well.

The final blow came from Trump on April 12, when he posted a now-viral AI image of himself depicted as Christ healing a sick man. The world was stunned. While many in the West had become accustomed to Muslims being belittled and insulted, they were taken aback by this new assault. Trump’s actions were akin to declaring war on the Catholic world, and they were unsure how to respond.

With around 55 million adult voters (66 million in total), representing over 20% of the American population, and 1.5 billion Catholics worldwide, this was a bloc that should not be underestimated. Had Trump crossed an unthinkable line? Could this mark the end for him and his colorful ensemble of TV hosts, golf buddies, and fellow con artists posing as bureaucrats? The White House staff went into immediate overdrive. The offending post was deleted, and Trump lamely explained that he thought he was role-playing as a doctor, not Jesus Christ. But the damage was done.

The Catholic world collectively gasped in horror, as did Pope Leo.

While in Cameroon during a four-country trip to Africa, the Pope responded, “A handful of tyrants is ravaging the world.” He didn’t name Trump, but he didn’t need to; the message was clear.

Chaos erupted among Trump’s loyalists, some of whom also happened to be ‘New Catholics.’ Individuals like Vice President Vance had no choice but to stand by Trump, proving that his newfound faith was far less important than his political career—so much for religious conviction.

On the other side, politicians like Italy’s Meloni chose to align themselves with the Pope. Was this a question of integrity and doing what’s right, or did she feel she had no other option? After all, she had to consider that approximately 78% of her voters are Catholics.

Trump, the Midterms, and the Catholic Vote.

Fact 1: Catholics comprise the single largest religious denomination in the United States, accounting for one-fifth of the population (source: Pew Research). Additionally, Catholics are 10 percentage points more likely to lean toward Republicans than Democrats (source: Pew, 2025).

Fact 2: An NBC poll conducted in March 2026 found Pope Leo to be more popular than Trump. This made Trump’s and his administration’s response to the Pope’s explicit denunciations of the war against Iran harder to ignore.

What has exacerbated this issue? Trump and his allies have been invoking Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity to justify their unprovoked war on Iran. So, could the real Jesus please stand up?

This situation does not bode well for Trump’s chances in the upcoming midterms. Will American Catholics hold him accountable at the polls? You decide.

Some conservative-leaning Catholic leaders have publicly urged Trump to apologize to Pope Leo, expressing their discomfort with being forced to choose between their faith and their country. This statement has surprised many, as it illustrates how Trump’s Christian voter base perceives him not merely as a deeply flawed individual with criminal inclinations but as a representation of America itself.

A post on X by Kelsey Reinhardt, President and CEO of Catholic Vote, also played it safe.

“There is no doubt that President Trump’s recent post insulting Pope Leo crossed a line of decorum that is important in diplomacy,” he stated.

Political pundits, however, are more definitive in their predictions. They anticipate that 2026 will be a challenging year for the GOP, with many races likely shifting toward the Democrats.

But time will tell.

Is Trump ready to make amends? Not likely. Just as this article was about to be published, news broke that Trump and his team canceled a multimillion-dollar contract with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami. This organization has provided housing and assistance to migrant children for nearly 60 years. The cancellation of the $11 million federal contract may put the charity at risk of closing down by the end of the year.

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