In a strongly worded message directed at the Vatican this week, former President Donald Trump's border enforcement czar responded to criticism from Pope Leo XIV regarding immigration policies and military actions. Tom Homan, speaking during a Newsmax interview that aired on Tuesday, expressed profound disappointment with the Catholic church's involvement in political matters.
Border Official's Disappointment with Church Leadership
Tom Homan, who served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the Trump administration, revealed his frustration with religious leaders who have opposed the former president's border security measures. "I'm a lifelong Catholic who has spent my entire life within the church, but I'm disappointed that they want to weigh in on political issues like this," Homan explained during the interview.
The border official suggested that the Catholic church should focus on internal problems rather than political commentary. "There are enough problems with the Catholic church—and I know because I'm a member—that they need to fix and concentrate on, leaving politics alone," he stated emphatically.
Offering Education on Border Realities
Homan extended an invitation to religious leaders, saying, "I wish they would sit down and let me educate them on open borders." He then presented a series of rhetorical questions highlighting what he perceives as the consequences of illegal immigration:
- "When President Trump has illegal immigration down 97%, how many women aren't being raped by the cartels?"
- "How many children aren't dying making that journey?"
- "How many pounds of fentanyl aren't killing Americans?"
- "How many women and children aren't being sex trafficked?"
The former border official concluded, "Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime," emphasizing his perspective on the human costs associated with undocumented migration.
Response to Cardinal Criticisms
Homan's comments came in response to a recent "60 Minutes" segment featuring three high-ranking Catholic cardinals who denounced the joint military operation between the United States and Israel. Among those interviewed was Cardinal Joseph Tobin of New Jersey, who previously described U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as a "lawless organization" following fatal shootings involving ICE officers in Minneapolis.
"They're talking from a position of not knowing what I know, what happens behind the scenes on illegal immigration," Homan asserted during his Newsmax appearance. He added, "I'm disappointed they're taking this position," suggesting that church leaders lack firsthand understanding of border enforcement realities.
Broader Context of Trump-Vatican Tensions
The exchange occurs against a backdrop of escalating tensions between former President Trump and Catholic leadership. Trump recently called Pope Leo XIV "WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy" in a Truth Social post, drawing criticism from many within the Catholic community.
In a subsequent interview with NBC News, the former president declared, "I'm not a big fan of Pope Leo," and questioned the pontiff's effectiveness, stating he didn't believe the Catholic church's first U.S.-born pope was "doing a very good job."
The same day, Trump or his team posted what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting the former president as resembling Jesus Christ on Truth Social. After bipartisan condemnation of the image as blasphemous, it was quietly removed from the platform.
Despite these tensions, Pope Leo XIV has remained steadfast, pledging to "continue to speak out loudly against war" and noting he has "no fear of the Trump administration." The pontiff's commitment to vocal opposition suggests ongoing friction between religious leadership and political figures regarding immigration policy and international conflict.
