GOP Speaker says Pope Leo brought Trump’s anger on himself
President Trump labeled Pope Leo XIV 'weak' and faced backlash for a social media image depicting himself as Jesus.
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11 stories · 81–87 · updated Sep 25, 2026
This article1 analysis · Apr 16, 2026
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Published Apr 16, 2026
tl;dr
House Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Trump's criticisms of Pope Leo XIV, arguing that religious leaders should expect political pushback when entering policy debates regarding the ongoing U.S. war in Iran.
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Mike Johnson
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Speaker of the House defending Trump's rhetoric
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25 OUTLETSNCR and Raw Story emphasize reactions to Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, including solidarity with the pope and backlash from Catholics. Off The Press and Patriot News Alerts focus on Speaker Johnson’s role in Trump removing the AI-generated image.
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