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New Poll Reveals Americans Disapprove of President Trump's Criticism of Pope Leo XIV


Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll conducted in late April 2026.
Pope Leo XIV and Vatican Hierarchy have expressed criticism and nuanced disapproval of some U.S. military and immigration-enforcement actions. In response, President Trump vocally denounced the pope.
In the new poll, 2 of 3 Americans react positively to Pope Leo asking Americans to contact Congress to work for peace and reject war. Nearly 6 in 10 have a negative reaction to Trump’s false claim about the pope saying “it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” The poll, reveals that Pope Leo XIV has a 25-point net favorable margin among Americans surveyed, with 41% favorable, 16% unfavorable and 43% with no opinion of the pontiff.

Public Rejects Religious Rhetoric from President Trump and Hegseth

A new poll reveals a significant disconnect between the Trump administration’s religious messaging and the American public's values. Conducted between April 24–28, 2026, the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos survey shows that a vast majority of Americans—including many within the President's own base—are deeply uncomfortable with recent faith-based statements from the White House and the Pentagon.Key Findings: Deep Disapproval Across the Board

Despite the country’s intense political polarization, the survey found rare bipartisan agreement in the rejection of two specific incidents:

  • President Trump’s "Doctor/Jesus" Post: 87% of Americans expressed a negative view of an AI-generated image shared by President Trump that appeared to depict him as a Christ-like or doctor figure.

  • Hegseth’s Pentagon Prayer: 69% of the public disapproved of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s prayer at the Pentagon, in which he called for "overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy."

Fractures in the GOP Base

The backlash is notably strong among President Trump's core supporters:

  • 80% of 2024 Trump voters and 79% of Republicans reacted negatively to the "Doctor/Jesus" image.

  • More than 40% of both groups voiced disapproval of Hegseth’s prayer.

  • 9 in 10 White evangelical Protestants disliked the Jesus-like imagery, contributing to a 10-point drop in Trump's overall approval rating within that demographic since February 2025.

The "First American Pope" vs. The President

While Trump’s numbers are slipping, Pope Leo XIV—the first U.S.-born pontiff, elected in May 2025—enjoys a generally positive reputation.

MetricPope Leo XIVPresident Trump
Overall Approval41% Favorable / 16% Unfavorable37% (Down from 45% in Feb 2025)
Catholic SupportHighly popular, especially with Democrats38% (Down 10 points)
White Catholic SupportStrong bipartisan appeal49% (Down from 63% in Feb 2025)

Policy Clashes and Public Opinion

The tension between the Vatican and the White House has centered on U.S. military actions in Iran and immigration enforcement.

  • 2 in 3 Americans support Leo’s call for peace and diplomatic engagement.

  • 6 in 10 Americans rejected Trump’s claim that the Pope suggested it was "OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon."

Blasphemy Allegations and the "Messiah" Complex

The controversy regarding the AI-generated image led to rare public criticism from the religious right, with many calling the post "outrageous blasphemy." Though Trump eventually deleted the image—claiming he thought it looked like a "Red Cross worker"—the damage to his "champion of faith" persona appears significant.

For voters like Cindy Luna, a Republican from Nevada, the rhetoric has fueled growing skepticism. "He can disagree with the Pope," she noted, "but he doesn't understand who the Pope is... [Leo] is not a politician, so he'll call a spade a spade."

Source https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2026/05/06/poll-trump-leo-hegseth-approval/

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