Vance says he’s ‘grateful’ for Pope Leo’s statement on not wanting public debate with Trump
By Sophie Brams
Published on April 19, 2026.
Vice President JD Vance has thanked Pope Leo XIV for his statement that he does not want to engage in a public debate with President Trump, despite a recent clash between the two leaders. The pope had previously downplayed a clash with Trump, stating that some of the coverage of his comments during his papal visit to Africa was misrepresented. Vance, a Catholic, expressed his gratitude to the pope's statement on social media and suggested that since the pope "preaches the gospel, as he should," he could offer his opinions on moral issues of the day. This comes amid a rift between the Trump administration and the Vatican, where the president has repeatedly criticized the pope over his stance on Iran's conflict with Iran and Iran's potential destruction.
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