Donald Trump on Saturday promoted a controversial Baptist pastor's assertion that he has a superior grasp of the Bible compared to Pope Leo XIV. This move came just days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with the pontiff in an effort to ease tensions between the United States and the Vatican.
Pastor's Claims on Fox News
In a Fox News clip shared by Trump on Truth Social, evangelical leader Robert Jeffress stated, "The great irony is it looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has." Jeffress added, "And I'm glad the president hasn't backed down at all."
Jeffress, a staunch Trump supporter who has previously referred to evangelicals not backing the president as "spineless morons," began his Fox News appearance by describing the first U.S.-born pontiff as a "good man" who is "sincere in his faith." However, he quickly added a caveat: "But he is sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran." This remark referenced the pope's criticism of the Iran war, which has fueled Trump's recent attacks against the pontiff.
Religious and Political Context
Jeffress, who has previously claimed that Roman Catholicism is influenced by Satan, preached that the pope "ought to know" that "the role of the church is to point people to faith in Jesus Christ but the role of government is to protect citizens from evildoers, according to Romans 13." The pastor cited this New Testament chapter in 2017 when he argued on Fox News that the Bible allowed Trump to use "force to topple evil," granting him the ability to execute an assassination or start a war with North Korea.
Jeffress also pointed to a White House meeting with Trump and other faith leaders after the president launched strikes on Iran. He claimed Trump said he had "no choice" but to attack the country. "I thanked him then for having the courage to fulfill his God-given responsibility to protect our nation," Jeffress said.
Rubio's Vatican Meeting
Rubio's meeting at the Vatican on Thursday was set against the backdrop of Trump's feud with Pope Leo over the pope's criticism of the Iran war. Trump has accused the pope of wanting Iran to have nuclear weapons. Rubio told reporters in Rome that the closed-door meeting was "productive" and "very cordial." When asked if he would advise Trump to pause his attacks, Rubio said the president "will always speak clearly about how he feels about the U.S. and U.S. policy."
