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Mike Johnson Says Pope Leo 'Had It Coming' as He Defends Trump and Vance Amid Escalating Religious Row

Trump’s attacks on the pope and deleted AI-generated image helped intensify the dispute.

Mike Johnson Says Pope Leo 'Had It Coming' as He Defends Trump and Vance Amid Escalating Religious Row
Image · International Business Times UK

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This article1 analysis · Oct 7, 2026
tl;dr

House Speaker Mike Johnson defended President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance in their dispute with Pope Leo XIV over war and religious authority. Johnson said religious leaders who enter political debates should expect political responses, while the article also describes backlash over Trump's deleted AI-generated image.

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Donald Trump R · President of the United States
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Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President criticized by the pope and defended by Johnson

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Mike Johnson
R · LA-4

Speaker of the House defending Trump and Vance in their dispute with the pope

Johnson's version of this story ↗
J.D. Vance
Vice President of the United States

Vice President who echoed Johnson’s argument about the use of force

ALSO MENTIONED  Pope Leo XIV, Pope whose criticism of the war prompted political responses

Part of a bigger story

3 OUTLETS
Mike Johnson Defends Trump Administration’s Iran Policy After Pope’s Remarks

The articles describe Trump’s dispute with Pope Leo XIV over war-related remarks and political defenses of Trump. Left-leaning outlets focus on defenses of Trump in that dispute, but one centers Johnson’s comments alongside the war’s human and economic costs, while the other recounts Stefanik’s defense and the statements preceding the exchange.

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