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

The backlash from Catholic leaders and white evangelical supporters highlights tension over Trump’s religious base, which included 79% of white evangelicals in 2024, AP VoteCast found.

  • On Monday, President Donald Trump removed a Truth Social image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure, claiming he never intended to liken himself to Jesus after facing widespread criticism.
  • The incident followed Trump's verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, which sparked dismay across the Catholic spectrum as bishops viewed the attack as undermining the Church's dignity.
  • Minnesota-Based Bishop Robert Barron called the remarks "entirely inappropriate and disrespectful," while Denise Murphy McGraw assailed the meme as "OUTRAGEOUS blasphemy" and urged Trump to seek forgiveness from Americans and God.
  • Trump refused to apologize, declaring "there's nothing to apologize for," while evangelical supporter Ralph Reed emphasized that appreciation for the president's faith-based policies transcends this disagreement.
  • This feud arrives six months before midterm elections, posing risks for Trump's coalition where white evangelical Protestants, representing 34% of voters, remain a critical political base.
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Many US Catholics are dismayed by Trump's unprecedented broadside at the first American pope

A majority of U.S. Catholic voters supported Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential victory. However, there is dismay in Catholic ranks over Trump’s verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope.

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Stillwater News Press broke the news in Stillwater, United States on Monday, April 13, 2026.
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