President Donald Trump congratulated Pope Leo XIV on his election Thursday, calling it “an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.” But some of the president’s supporters are less thrilled by the choice.
As soon as his election was announced, the new pope’s past social media posts were quickly unearthed, some of which appeared to be critical of Trump’s immigration policies and of Vice President JD Vance.
As Cardinal Robert Prevost, Leo had posted an article from National Catholic Reporter in February that rebutted Vance’s interpretation of a Catholic theological concept, “ordo amoris,” as a hierarchy of Christian love. Days later, he shared on X an article from America Magazine that was critical of Trump’s immigration policies and the rhetoric demonizing migrants.
His last public activity on X was in April, when he reposted an essay from Bishop Evelio Menjivar, an auxiliary bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, who condemned the administration’s legally questionable immigration enforcement tactics.
As his social media posts made the rounds, several prominent MAGA influencers spoke out against the new papal leader. Far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, who has Trump’s ear, wrote a series of posts trashing the pope, including one calling him “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open Borders, and a total Marxist like Pope Francis.”
Jack Posobiec, another prominent far-right figure, said the pope’s social media posts “do not bode well for Trump supporters” and suggested that the head of the Catholic Church should not wade into political issues.
Charlie Kirk, the founder and president of Turning Point USA, suggested the jury is still out on the pope, questioning whether he is a “Registered Chicago Republican and pro-life warrior OR Open borders globalist installed to counter Trump?” Leo is believed to be sympathetic to the cause of migrants and refugees. It’s an issue that had led his predecessor, Pope Francis, to clash with the Trump administration at times — and that sparked the ire of Trump’s diehard supporters. Leo’s brother John Prevost told The New York Times that the pope’s views will likely be “middle of the road,” but that he will use his platform to speak up on certain issues. “I know he’s not happy with what’s going on with immigration,” Prevost said of his brother. “I know that for a fact. How far he’ll go with it is only one’s guess, but he won’t just sit back.”
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
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