Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, one of Donald Trump's most reliable Republican allies, has publicly rejected what he calls the president's "holy war" against Pope Leo XIV, marking a rare crack in their relationship.
Kennedy defended the pontiff during a Fox News appearance Saturday, saying the escalating dispute amounts to a costly distraction. "I don't agree with him about this new holy war with the pope," Kennedy said, while emphasizing his overall loyalty to the administration.
The senator stressed his Methodist faith and his distance from Catholic doctrine, but voiced respect for the church and the pope's right to speak on matters of conscience. "Why do we want to have a fight with the pope?" Kennedy asked. "It's a distraction. And the press just sucks it up like a Hoover Deluxe."
The tension between Trump and the Vatican centers on U.S. foreign policy toward Iran. Two weeks ago, Pope Leo condemned Trump's threat that "a whole civilization will die" in Iran if it did not lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The pope called the remarks "truly unacceptable" and urged Americans to contact Congress demanding peace, citing violations of international law.
Trump responded last Sunday on Truth Social, attacking the pope for being "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy." He expressed concern that the pope supports Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Pope Leo has previously denounced what he called "the profound horrors wrought by nuclear weapons," a statement at odds with Trump's framing.
The feud has included unusual displays. Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ last week, sparking criticism even from Christian supporters. Vice President JD Vance, who converted to Catholicism and is writing a book about the experience, offered a measured defense, telling Fox News that Trump should focus on American policy while the pope should confine himself to church matters.
Pope Leo signaled Saturday he has no desire to engage in a public back-and-forth with the president, though he stated plainly he has "no fear" of the Trump administration.
The pontiff has received particular praise from Trump for his eldest brother, Louis Prevost, an avid Trump supporter living in Florida, suggesting family dynamics may be coloring the dispute.
Author James Rodriguez: "Kennedy's willingness to call out Trump on this one suggests even loyalists have limits when it comes to picking fights with the world's most influential religious leader."
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