President Trump sent his well wishes to the new American Pope, Robert Prevost — even though the new pontiff has been critical of the president, his administration and his treatment of migrants.
Prevost, who has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, has shared several highly critical posts about Trump and his immigration policies on X.
One scathing post Prevost retweeted read: “There is nothing remotely Christian, American, or morally defensible about a policy that takes children away from their parents and warehouses them in cages. This is being carried out in our name and the shame is on us all.”
The Chicago-born cardinal’s most recent retweet questioned whether Trump and his administration “see the suffering” caused by their policies.
“As Trump & Bukele use Oval to [laughing crying emoji] Feds’ illicit deportation of a US resident, once an undoc-ed Salvadoran himself, no-DC Aux+Evelio asks, “Do you not see the suffering? Is your conscious not disturbed? How can you stay quiet?” the post read.
Pope Leo XIV is the first American to be chosen as pope. (AFP via Getty Images)
He has also previously retweeted posts about Trump’s “bad hombres” line fueling racism and messages in support of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
The new pope also previously shared an op-ed from the National Catholic Reporter titled: “JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others,” following comments the vice president made on Fox News in February.
During the interview, Vance said, “There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”
His comments drew ire from many Christians — including the new Catholic Pope, who shared an op-ed claiming Vance was “wrong.”
Despite his criticisms of Trump, the president still sent his well wishes to the new head of the Catholic Church.
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
President Trump shared his well wishes for Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social. The new pope, the first American to ever take on the role, has previously been critical of the Trump administration. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Far-right activist Laura Loomer jumped to Trump’s defense following the news that Prevost has been critical of the president, writing, “The new Pope @drprevost supports illegal aliens and open borders. He retweeted tweets in support of ‘dreamers’ aka illegals and attacked President Trump’s use of the phrase “bad hombres” to describe violent illegal aliens. He thinks it’s a ‘racist’ phrase.”
Political world reacts
Politicians and world leaders started sharing their congratulations to the first American pope.
“Everything dope, including the Pope, comes from Chicago!” Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wrote on X. “Congratulations to the first American Pope Leo XIV! We hope to welcome you back home soon.”
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker also congratulated Pope Leo XIV on the “historic” accomplishment.
“A historic moment as we witness the first American leading the Catholic Church. Hailing from Chicago, Pope Leox XIV ushers in a new chapter that I join those in our state welcoming in at a time when we need compassion, unity, and peace,” he wrote on X.
Vice President JD Vance expressed his congratulations to the new pontiff on X — despite the Pope’s previous criticism of him.
“Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christans will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!” Vance wrote.
Prevost, 69, who holds both American and Peruvian citizenship, also serves as the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, where nearly 40 percent of the world’s Catholics reside.
He became the newly appointed leader of the Roman Catholic Church on Thursday after more than two-thirds of the cardinals voted for him to succeed the late Francis.
Faithful Catholics cheered in the Vatican square, waving flags from countless countries in celebration as the news was shared.
While many observers felt following the death of Argentine Pope Francis that cardinals would elect a European successor, the 69-year-old Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishop from Chicago, the largest Archdiocese in North America, was likely to be the top candidate from the Americas.
This is a developing story…
