Senator John Kennedy Calls Out Trump’s Dangerous Feud with Pope Leo XIV
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Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, despite his history of supporting Trump, has criticized the president’s reckless conflict with Pope Leo XIV, labeling it a 'distraction' from urgent global issues.
Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana, a Republican and longtime supporter of President Donald Trump, has finally broken ranks to publicly criticize the president’s ongoing and needless conflict with Pope Leo XIV, referring to it as a 'distraction.' In a recent Fox News interview, Kennedy voiced his disagreement with Trump’s inflammatory approach, stating, 'I love the president like a taco. I don't always agree with him, but I think he wants a better world. But I don't agree with him about this new holy war with the pope.'
Kennedy, a Methodist who co-founded his local church chapter, highlighted his respect for Catholicism and underscored that the pope is 'entitled to his opinion.' He questioned the necessity of the conflict, asking, 'Why do we want to have a fight with the pope? It's a distraction. And the press just sucks it up like a Hoover Deluxe.'
The senator’s remarks come as Trump escalates tensions with Pope Leo XIV over the U.S.-Israel war against Iran. The pope, standing on the side of peace and humanity, recently condemned Trump’s belligerent threat that 'a whole civilization will die' in Iran if the country does not end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The pope called the remarks 'truly unacceptable' and urged Americans to advocate for peace, not war-mongering. In response, Trump lashed out, labeling Pope Leo 'WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy' in a Truth Social post, further fueling division and undermining calls for diplomacy.
Vice President JD Vance, a recent convert to Catholicism, has chosen to defend Trump amid growing criticism from Christian voters. Vance suggested the pope should focus on internal Church matters, while Trump should continue his disastrous approach to American public policy—ignoring the moral leadership the world desperately needs.