Pope Leo XIV’s Past Social Media Posts Criticizing Trump and Vance Surface

WASHINGTON — The election of Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost of Chicago, as the head of the Catholic Church on May 8 has brought renewed attention to his past social media activity, which includes criticisms of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s stances on immigration.

Prior to ascending to the papacy, then-Cardinal Prevost was vocal on social media, particularly on the platform X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disapproval of certain policies and statements made by Trump and Vance. These posts, dating back several years, provide insight into the new pontiff’s views on key issues that have been at the forefront of political and social discourse, especially concerning immigration.

Specifically, three posts have garnered significant attention. One post criticized Vance’s perspective on religion, suggesting a conflict between his pronouncements and core Catholic values. Another post shared an article that critiqued Vance’s statements regarding the deportation of migrants. The third post involved a retweet of criticism directed at both Trump and El Salvadorian President Nayib Bukele, focusing on their response to the deportation of El Salvadorian national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a resident of Maryland.

A particularly notable post from February 3, 2025, linked to an article published by the National Catholic Reporter with the headline "JD Vance is wrong: Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others." This article stemmed from Vance’s use of medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the Trump administration’s new immigration policy. Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, drew upon theological concepts that were subsequently rebuked by Pope Francis, Leo XIV’s predecessor. Pope Francis had addressed the issue directly in an open letter to the U.S. Catholic bishops, expressing his concerns about the Trump administration’s policies in February.

While the new pontiff significantly reduced his activity on his X account in 2024, he had maintained a consistent presence on the platform since 2011, posting hundreds of times in both English and Spanish. These posts offer a valuable record of his evolving perspectives on a range of social and political issues.

In 2015, Prevost shared a link to a Washington Post opinion piece titled "Cardinal Dolan: Why Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric is so problematic." This further underscores his long-standing concerns about the tone and substance of the debate surrounding immigration in the United States.

It is worth noting that Pope Francis also clashed repeatedly with Trump and Vance, especially over their administration’s immigration policies. Francis was critical of their plans to deport millions of migrants from the U.S., as well as their decisions to implement widespread cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare programs. These disagreements highlight the differing perspectives on social justice and human rights that have existed between the Catholic Church leadership and certain political figures.

Vance was among the last officials to meet with Pope Francis before his passing. The day before his death at the age of 88, the Pope hosted the U.S. Vice President at the Vatican, providing a poignant moment of dialogue between the Church and the political leadership.

The surfacing of Leo XIV’s past social media posts raises questions about how his previous criticisms of Trump and Vance might influence the relationship between the Vatican and the U.S. government under his leadership.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Leo’s past criticism of the president and vice president. However, Trump had earlier celebrated the election of the first-ever American as pontiff in a post on Truth Social.

When asked for comment on the new pope and ex-cardinal’s previous tweets about the vice president, Vance’s office pointed to his own X post: "Congratulations to Leo XIV, the first American Pope, on his election! I’m sure millions of American Catholics and other Christians will pray for his successful work leading the Church. May God bless him!"

This response suggests a degree of diplomacy and a willingness to move forward despite the past disagreements. However, the long-term implications of these past criticisms remain to be seen.

The election of Pope Leo XIV marks a significant moment in the history of the Catholic Church, with the selection of the first American pontiff. His past social media activity provides a window into his views on important social and political issues, particularly immigration, and raises questions about the future relationship between the Vatican and the U.S. government. The world will be watching to see how Pope Leo XIV navigates these challenges and leads the Catholic Church in the years to come. His actions and pronouncements will undoubtedly be scrutinized and analyzed, especially in light of his previous outspokenness on social media.