Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Politics and Religion
The Hypocrisy of Trump’s Christian Supporters On Politics

The Hypocrisy of Trump’s Christian Supporters On Politics

Last updated on: April 20, 2026 at 2:55 am by Henry Karlson

0 Comments

The Hypocrisy of Trump’s Christian Supporters On Politics 2026-04-20T02:55:09-05:00 Henry Karlson

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Gage Skidmore: Trump’s Secretary “of War” Pete Hegseth / Wikimedia Commons

It’s amazing what will get Christians, and even Catholics, to accept 21st century anti-Catholicism, especially anti-Catholicism in America, where religious liberty is meant to be embraced. Nonetheless, Trump gets them to do so. During his second tenure as the president, his administration has been attacking Catholics, sending ICE to Catholic parishes, denying funding for various Catholic charities, and even attacking Catholic rights in the military. It should not be surprising that those who defend anything and everything Trump does would ultimately find his harsh treatment of Pope Leo XIV acceptable because the pope, speaking as a moral, as well as spiritual, authority, called out Trump’s unjust war Iran. Trump’s supporters responded by saying the pope “shouldn’t get political,” despite the way many of them are Christian nationalists who are trying to merge their vision of the church with the state (as can be seen by the way Hegseth is orchestrating a Christian nationalist takeover of the military). When Catholic bishops, or even popes, said things they liked, Trump and his supporters embraced them, and never once suggested they should be silent. It is only when a pope (or other religious leader) speaks against them that we find Trump, and those with him, like J.D. Vance, suggest the pope should stay out of politics (and, apparently, even theology). Really? I can’t help but see how duplicitous they are; they want to use religion, and embrace anything a religious person says which agrees with them, but they will denounce everything else. The reason for this is obvious: they want religion to be an ideological tool to use for their own private purposes, nothing else; they don’t want to change their ways to meet the expectations religions impose on their followers.

I would like to say I am surprised at how many Christians (and Catholics) have fallen for and now promote anti-Catholic rhetoric which has emerged since Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV. I would like to say I am surprised that a typical anti-Catholic apologetic trope which suggests Catholics do not know Scripture is being employed against the pope. I would like to say I am surprised, but I am not, because I have seen this building up for a long time.

It seems to me that many of those who criticize the pope (or Catholics), suggesting they don’t know Scripture, often are the ones who have not studied Scripture, and do not know its contents. They might know a few select passages which they take out of context and turn into absolutes, using them to interpret or ignore any other Scripture that goes against their ideological vision, but they have not studied the text as a whole. Often enough, especially when they try to use Scripture to support their bloodlust, they show they have ignored the rest of Scripture, Scripture which contends against violence and promotes the way of peace, showing why their simple interpretation is invalid. All texts should be interpreted through what is said by the rest of Scripture, and especially the Gospels, where we learn what Christ taught. Instead, they choose texts which were written and were about events which took place long before Christ was born, during a time which Christ himself said God allowed things to be done due to the hardness of the hearts of the people and not because God approved of them.

Pope Leo IV certainly knows Scripture, and has studied it extensively, in a depth which few Christians ever do. He knows that, for Christians, Scripture should always be interpreted through the lens of Christ, that is, based upon what Christ taught: blessed are the peacemakers, turn the other cheek, those who live by the sword shall die by the sword, and the way of the kingdom of God is not the way of earthly might or war, but the way of the cross. Violence in the Torah, violence in the Tanakh, like stoning people to death, was not what God wanted: consistently, throughout Scripture, we find God promoting peace, not war, justice, and not oppression. This is why David was not able to build the Temple, because his hands were full of blood.

Jesus was very political in his message, which is why politicians, Jewish and Roman alike, had him executed. Jesus promoted the poor and warned the rich who exploited the poor that God stood with the poor they abused. There were times that Jesus’ critics suggested Jesus didn’t know, or didn’t follow, the Torah (which was oral, and not just written); this is why they asked him why his followers didn’t obey it when it told them to wash their hands, or when it told them not to work on the Sabbath, or when it told them to stone various sinners. Jesus revealed that the Torah was not to be used as a tool for political violence and repression. God is a God of life, of mercy, of love. This is exactly the message Pope Leo XIV promotes when he speaks against Trump’s war against Iran.

Ever since it is clear that Pope Leo XIV will continue to promote Christ’s peace, a peace established with justice and not war, I have seen a coordinated effort on twitter (and social media in general), to misrepresent his position, to misrepresent Scripture, in order to have Catholics follow Trump instead of him. I’m sure many claiming to be Catholics on twitter are not Catholic. I’m sure there are many bot accounts, and many paid influencers, behind these attacks. It is too coordinated, with many of the same bad talking points used. For example, after Pope Leo XIV met with David Axelrod, I find many saying the same thing: Axelrod (and Obama) control the pope, and that is why Pope Leo XIV spoke out against Trump. They ignore that the pope has given this message of peace before meeting with Axelrod, and it is the same message that previous popes gave (such as St. John Paul II with his criticism of the Iraq war). This attack, using the pope’s meeting with Axelrod to suggest something dubious, makes me wonder how many who make it have read, understood, and believe Scripture, as it is the same kind of criticism which many made against Jesus when he met with and talked to tax collectors.

I am not surprised about the anti-Catholicism coming from the Trump administration. I expected it. It was clear that the Christian nationalist support behind Trump would eventually take on Catholicism. Again, all we have to do is look to Hegseth, and the ideologues he embraces, ideologues who want to deny religious liberty to Catholics, to see what Trump has brought into the government with him. I am not even surprised with the way many Catholics have embraced anti-Catholic tropes, because they are more ideologues than Catholics. What I am surprised at is how many Catholic leaders, while responding to what Trump has said, have tried to do so in the weakest manner possible so that they can end up praising Trump, as Bishop Robert did when he said:

I am very grateful for the many ways that the Trump administration has reached out to Catholics and other people of faith. It has been a high honor to serve on the Religious Liberty Commission. No President in my lifetime has shown a greater dedication to defending our first liberty. All that said, I think the President owes the Pope an apology.

Barron has been trying to downplay the pope’s criticism of Trump’s war against Iran. He has not been forthright on it. He has not spoken with the prophetic authority a bishop should speak from. Now, I am not surprised at Barron, or others like him, such as those involved with the Napa Institute, doing all they can to ignore the pope; what I am surprised is how bold they are in their attempt to misinterpret the pope for the sake of Trump. They don’t even hide it, despite the anti-Catholicism which is now a clear part of the Trump administration. Like St. Thomas More, like St. Thomas Becket, they must decide who they will follow, the pope, and Christ’s message of peace and justice, or Trump. I pray they have some sort of spiritual revelation so that like Becket, they can make an about-face and no longer be beholden to a secular authority making war against the pope. But I would not be surprised that they end up following the likes of Cranmer.

* This Is Another Post From My Personal (Informal) Reflections And Speculations Series

Stay in touch! Like A Little Bit of Nothing on Facebook.
If you liked what you read, please consider sharing it with your friends and family!

N.B.: While I read comments to moderate them, I rarely respond to them. If I don’t respond to your comment directly, don’t assume I am unthankful for it. I appreciate it. But I want readers to feel free to ask questions, and hopefully, dialogue with each other. I have shared what I wanted to say, though some responses will get a brief reply by me, or, if I find it interesting and something I can engage fully, as the foundation for another post. I have had many posts inspired or improved upon thanks to my readers.

Progressive Christian

Politics and Religion

Previous Post

April 19, 2026

Reflections For Paschaltide 2026: Myrrh-bearing Women

Next Post

April 22, 2026 Jesus' Challenge Against Religious Corruption

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"First things first is the easiest way forward. "If someone is bleeding profusely, we must ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Why We Must Embrace Empathy, Sympathy ..."

"Gosh, did that hit the spot. I have been having great anxiety lately. And I ..."

Mark Wilson

Rejecting Doom: Christian Hope And Human ..."

"Justice and peace are two sides of the same coin. Where there is justice, there ..."

Dr.Cajetan Coelho

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

"Thank you for your very, very powerful and very, very insightful analysis of the relationship ..."

alwayspuzzled

Justice First, Charity Beyond It: Serving ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Abortion Abraham abuse Aesthetics AI Aliens Ambrose Ancestors and Everything Andrew Angels Animals Anne Anthony Antisemitism apologetics Apophatic Apostle John Aquinas Artificial Intelligence Asanga Ascension Asceticism Assumption Atheism Attachment Augustine Authority Avarice Balthasar Baptism Beauty Biden birthright citizenship Bishops Black History Books Buddhism Bulgakov Byzantine Calendar C.S. Lewis Calcidius Catholic Catholicism Catholicism Celibacy Charity Chastity children Chrismation Christ Christmas Christology Church Climate Change Common Good Communion Confession Confirmation Conscience Constantine conventions conversion councils Covid Creation Cross Dead Death Death Penalty Debate Deception Demagogues Demons Desert Monks Desert Mothers Desire destruction development Dialogue Dignity Dionsyius Dionysius Discipline Diversity Division Doctor Who doctrine dogma Dormition Dualism Easter Easter Series Ecumenical Councils Ecumenism Education Election Empathy Environment Error Eschatology eschaton Eternity Ethics Eucharist Evangelism Eve Evil evolution Faeries Faith Fear femininity Ficino Florence Florensky Folktale Fools Forgiveness Freedom Future gender Gentile Gentiles Glory Gnostic God gods Good Samaritan Goodness Gospel Government Grace Great Fast Guns Halloween Hate healing Health Heaven Hell Hellenism Heresy Hierarchy Hildegard Hinduism History Holiness Holy Spirit Holy Week Hope Horror Human rights humanity Humility hypocrisy ICE icon icons Identification Identity Idol II Nicea Immigration incarnation Individualism Informal Reflections Inklings Intention Inter-Religious Interfaith Internet Interpretation Intrinsic evil Irenaeus Islam Israel Jacob Jerome Jesus Jews John Chrysostom John of Damascus John the Baptist Joseph Judaism justice Justification kenosis Kindnesss Kingdom of God Kingdom of Heaven Law Law of Moses Lazarus Leaf by Niggle Lent Lenten Reflection Liberation Theology Lies Life Listen Literature Liturgy locutions Logic Logos Love Marriage Martyrs Mary Mass Maximos The Confessor Meanness Meditation Mercy Middle Path Migrants Mind Miracles Miriam Morals Moses Movies Music Muslims Myths Names Nationalism Native Americans New Year Nicea Nicholas Nothing Novatian Obedience Occam's Razor Ordination Origen Original Sin Orthodox orthopraxis Pagans Palamas Palm Sunday Paradise Paschaltide Paul Peace Pentecost person Peter piety PKD Plato pluralism Plurality Poem Poetry Poiltics Politics Poor Pope Pope Francis Pope Leo XIV Post Office Prayer Pride Pro-life Prodigal Son propaganda Prophecy Prophets Providence Putin Racism Reading Reason Reflection Refugees Relationships Religion Religion Series Religious Liberty Repent Republicans Rest Resurrection Rich Rites Russia Sacraments Saints Salvation Salvian Santa Science Scripture Self-Giving Sexuality Sibyl Sick Silence Sin Singlehood Social Justice Society Sodom Solovyov Speculations Spiritual Reflection St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Justin Martyr Suffering Sunday of the Paralytic Man Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Superhero Supreme Court Teaching Technology Thanksgiving The Father the Universe Theological Reflection Theology Theosis Theotokos Thomas Timaeus Time Tolerenace Tolkien Tradition Transfiguration Trinity Trump Truth Uncategorized Unity Universities USCCB Vainglory Value Vatican II Vegetarian Vices Violence Virtue Vocations War Water Welcome Wisdom Womanhood Women Work World View Worship Writing Zacchaeus

Select a Month November 2026 October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz