Pope Leo XIV created history as the first-ever American-born leader of the Catholic Church. The papal conclave, which began after Pope Francis’ passing, elected him as the new pontiff. Now, Donald Trump has suggested that he has played a role in Leo XIV’s election. His suggestion has faced some backlash, as the U.S. President technically has no role in selecting a new pope or participating in the traditional conclave process.
Trump shared his thoughts through another one of his famous Truth Social rants, which was primarily against ABC News, which spoke up about his insignificance in electing the Chicago-born Leo, formerly Cardinal Robert Prevost.
“So funny to watch old timer Martha Raditz on ABC Fake News (the Slopadopolus show!) this morning, blurt out that, effectively, Pope Leo’s selection had nothing to do with Donald Trump,” the Republican leader wrote on his Truth Social. “It came out of nowhere, but it was on her Trump Deranged Mind,” he added.
Trump then went on to talk about how he “did WIN the Catholic Vote, by a lot,” and therefore he must have played some role. He also demanded that Disney CEO Bob Iger do something about the “losers and haters he’s got on his low-rated shows.”
“So funny to watch old timer Martha Raditz on ABC Fake News (the Slopadopolus show!) this morning, blurt out that, effectively, Pope Leo’s selection had nothing to do with Donald Trump…” pic.twitter.com/JDb9Wz8S2P
— Bruce Snyder (@realBruceSnyder) May 12, 2025
The President’s greed for credit came after Pope Leo XIV delivered his first press conference on Monday morning. In an address to journalists in the Vatican’s Paul VI Hall, he called for an end to “loud, forceful communication.” The new pontiff’s call for unity met with loud cheers and support from the eager media representatives.
“Let us free it from aggression. We do not need loud, forceful communication, but rather communication that is capable of listening and gathering the voices of the weak who have no voice.”
Leo added, “Let us disarm words. Let us disarm words, and we will help the world disarm. Disarming communication will allow us to share events of the world and to act in a manner consistent with our human dignity.”
It is worth noting that the pope, who prefers peace over war, has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump and his minions for a long time. Leo, who was elected through a 24-hour Conclave last week, criticized MAGA’s anti-immigration moves.
Pope Leo XIV is a vocal critic of Donald Trump and JD Vance, sharing a post criticizing their attacks on due process and immigrants: “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscience not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” pic.twitter.com/McCMZrCWQH
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC) May 8, 2025
In February, he also made a headline: JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others. His statement was a direct response to the Vice President’s remark the day before. Vance claimed that a Christian tenet calls for prioritizing love for those close, as a justification for the Trump administration’s rampant mass deportations.
Before Trump came into power in 2016, Leo shared an article on X by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, with the headline: “Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic.”
Wow—this one’s a mic drop from the new Pope.
A sitting Cardinal (now Pope Leo XIV) publicly rebuking JD Vance for twisting scripture to justify a political agenda? pic.twitter.com/K8wKqtriDX
— Brian Allen (@allenanalysis) May 8, 2025
Now that someone like him, who was never scared to speak up against Donald Trump, became the leader of about 1.4 billion Catholics in the world, MAGA loyalists can’t sit still. Laura Loomer even went a step ahead and outright branded him “anti-Trump Marxist.”
Why the President wants credit for Leo XIV’s election is truly confusing, given that their ideologies are vastly different, mostly.
