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The Hill • April 21, 2026 12:30

Trump versus Pope Leo: A self-inflicted knockout blow

Political Leaning Analysis

Left Center Right

Score: 0.00 • Center / Neutral

The pope is ahead on points, the only knockout blow struck by Trump was to his own chin.

Story Timeline

Mon 04:37 - Le Figaro

“I'm not a fan of the Pope”: Trump attacks Leo XIV after his anti-war message

Mon 11:09 - DW All

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

Mon 11:09 - DW Top

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

Mon 11:09 - DW World

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

Wed 07:38 - Politico EU

Trump renews attack on the pope

Wed 12:59 - France 24

Pope heads to Cameroon with message of peace for conflict zone

Wed 17:31 - Fox News

David Axelrod trying to tamp down speculation after meeting the pope

Thu 05:35 - Al Jazeera English

The pope has shown the world how to stand up to Trump

Thu 11:27 - NYT Europe

Pope Leo, Amid Standoff With Trump, Says ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers’

Thu 15:19 - The Hill

NPR nabs $33 million from anonymous donor after Trump funding cuts

Thu 18:14 - France 24

Leo and "the tyrants": Does new pope's defiant message resonate?

Fri 22:19 - The Hill

Trump administration to release Second Avenue subway funding after MTA lawsuit

Sat 04:00 - NYT Europe

How Trump Helped Pope Leo Find His Voice

Sat 09:35 - France 24

Cameroon: Pope Leo's pointed message to Biya

Sat 12:36 - France 24

Pope vs Trump: Has the week of tension weakened the US president?

Sat 15:09 - NYT Europe

Pope Says News Outlets Misread Some of His Remarks as Criticism of Trump

Sat 16:37 - The Hill

Pope Leo: Debating Trump ‘not in my interest at all’

Sun 02:56 - Washington Examiner

Vance ‘grateful’ to Pope Leo for clearing up feud with Trump

Sun 07:47 - BBC Europe

Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump

Sun 11:59 - Fox News

Vance says he's 'grateful' for Pope Leo's statement on not wanting public debate with Trump

Sun 12:27 - Washington Examiner

Trump and the Christian Right crack-up

Mon 03:07 - The Hill

Pope Leo, Vance seek to mend fences after Trump feud

Mon 11:52 - The Hill

Senate Republican knocks Trump over ‘holy war’ with pope

Tue 12:30 - The Hill

Trump versus Pope Leo: A self-inflicted knockout blow

Different Perspectives

Al Jazeera English

1 article

▼

05:35

The pope has shown the world how to stand up to Trump

Far too many world leaders have chosen to mollify the bullying US president. Pope Leo has shown there's another way.

BBC Europe

1 article

▼

07:47

Pope says 'tyrants' speech was not aimed at Trump

The pontiff says his remarks have been misinterpreted after a spat with the US president.

DW All

1 article

▼

11:09

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

The pontiff stressed that his increasingly strong anti-war statements are not attacks on any one person.

DW Top

1 article

▼

11:09

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

The pontiff stressed that his increasingly strong anti-war statements are not attacks on any one person.

DW World

1 article

▼

11:09

Pope Leo: I am not afraid of Trump administration

The pontiff stressed that his increasingly strong anti-war statements are not attacks on any one person.

Fox News

2 articles

▼

11:59

Vance says he's 'grateful' for Pope Leo's statement on not wanting public debate with Trump

Vice President JD Vance welcomes Pope Leo XIV's effort to de-escalate tensions with Trump after days of public clash between the White House and Vatican.

17:31

David Axelrod trying to tamp down speculation after meeting the pope

David Axelrod denies his Pope Leo XIV meeting was a precursor to a potential summit with former President Barack Obama amid accusations of politically motivated Trump criticism.

France 24

4 articles

▼

12:36

Pope vs Trump: Has the week of tension weakened the US president?

A week of escalating tensions has unfolded between Donald Trump and the Vatican, after Trump insulted the Pope on social media following remarks on peace in the Middle East. His …

09:35

Cameroon: Pope Leo's pointed message to Biya

No Pope has spoken to Paul Biya this way.As Cameroonians grow fearful of their futures, #PopeLeo’s pointed message against tyranny is necessary, explains Father Jean-Luc Enyegue.More on #F24Debate ➡️ https://go.france24.com/iyu

18:14

Leo and "the tyrants": Does new pope's defiant message resonate?

A new U-S-born Pope on a first-ever visit to Cameroon’s restive English-speaking northwest, and who’s not turning the other cheek: “Blessed are the peacemakers! But woe to those who manipulate …

12:59

Pope heads to Cameroon with message of peace for conflict zone

Pope Leo XIV left Algeria on Wednesday headed for Cameroon for a four-day trip that includes a visit to the epicentre of a nearly decade-long separatist conflict, where he is …

Le Figaro

1 article

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04:37

“I'm not a fan of the Pope”: Trump attacks Leo XIV after his anti-war message

Le républicain a accusé pêle-mêle Léon XIV de soutenir le programme d’armement nucléaire iranien ou encore de s’être opposé à l’opération militaire américaine au Venezuela.

NYT Europe

3 articles

▼

15:09

Pope Says News Outlets Misread Some of His Remarks as Criticism of Trump

Pope Leo responded directly on Monday to a presidential attack. But since then, he said, some of his statements during his Africa trip have been misconstrued.

04:00

How Trump Helped Pope Leo Find His Voice

After his election last year, Leo XIV developed a reputation as a mild-mannered mediator. President Trump’s attacks have made him more combative.

11:27

Pope Leo, Amid Standoff With Trump, Says ‘Blessed Are the Peacemakers’

For days, Pope Leo XIV has attracted criticism from President Trump and his allies for refusing to back the war in Iran. On Thursday, he reiterated his calls for peace.

Politico EU

1 article

▼

07:38

Trump renews attack on the pope

“Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months," snarks the U.S. president.

The Hill

5 articles

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11:52

Senate Republican knocks Trump over ‘holy war’ with pope

Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) is warning that if Republicans lose the November midterm elections it will be because they didn’t talk enough about reducing the cost of living and urged …

03:07

Pope Leo, Vance seek to mend fences after Trump feud

Pope Leo XIV and Vice President Vance on Saturday both said the presumed feud with President Trump was misinterpreted. “There’s been a certain narrative that has not been accurate in …

16:37

Pope Leo: Debating Trump ‘not in my interest at all’

Pope Leo XIV on Saturday said any debate with President Trump amid their recent back-and-forth is "not in my interest at all." The pope was aboard his plane headed to …

22:19

Trump administration to release Second Avenue subway funding after MTA lawsuit

The Trump administration on Thursday agreed to release federal funding to go toward the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) project to extend the Second Avenue subway following a lawsuit …

15:19

NPR nabs $33 million from anonymous donor after Trump funding cuts

National Public Radio is getting a new injection of funding from private donors months after President Trump's administration pulled federal dollars from the public broadcaster. NPR announced Thursday a total …

Washington Examiner

2 articles

▼

12:27

Trump and the Christian Right crack-up

A week of battling with the pope and over AI-generated images depicting President Donald Trump has revealed tensions between two crucial socially conservative voting blocs ahead of the midterm elections. …

02:56

Vance ‘grateful’ to Pope Leo for clearing up feud with Trump

Vice President JD Vance praised Pope Leo XIV’s recent statement downplaying the tensions between the Vatican and President Donald Trump after a week of back-and-forth sparring. Leo said on Saturday …