'New Holy War': Republican Senator Criticises Trump Over Attacks On Pope Leo

Last Updated:April 20, 2026, 13:53 IST

Republican Senator John Kennedy criticizes Trump for a "holy war" with Pope Leo XIV over Iran and Israel, urging respect for the pope

A Republican Senator has criticised US President Donald Trump over his rhetoric against Pope Leo XIV, terming it a “holy war."

Lawmaker John Kennedy, a longtime Trump ally, broke ranks with him during a Fox News interview, expressing disagreement over his recent remarks against the Pope. “I love the president like a taco," Kennedy remarked, before adding, “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, who is Methodist, emphasised his respect for Catholicism and argued that the pope should be free to express his views. “Why do we want to have a fight with the pope?" he said, calling the dispute a distraction amplified by the media.

Trump-Pope Fued

The remarks come amid a growing feud between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the US-Israel conflict with Iran. Earlier, the pope criticised Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die" if Iran did not lift its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, calling the comments “truly unacceptable" and stressing that targeting civilian infrastructure violates international law.

Trump responded on Truth Social by labelling the pope “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy," adding: “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon." The pontiff, however, has consistently spoken against nuclear weapons.

Vice President JD Vance defended Trump, suggesting religious leaders and political leaders should focus on their respective domains. Meanwhile, Pope Leo clarified earlier that he did not intend to engage in a prolonged exchange, though he had “no fear" of the current US administration.

News world 'New Holy War': Republican Senator Criticises Trump Over Attacks On Pope Leo

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