Trump-Pope Clash, Islamabad Talks

Trump ignites a firestorm by publicly clashing with Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “very liberal” before doubling down with a controversial AI image that painted himself in biblical robes. The backlash is swift: Evangelical and Catholic leaders slam the move, while new polling shows U.S. Catholic support for Trump is splitting—especially over his tough approach to Iran. With swing-state Catholic voters in play and religious figures speaking out, the stakes for 2024 just got a lot more complicated.

But here’s the catch: while faith leaders spar and the optics penalty mounts, Trump is raising the stakes abroad. He’s pushing for a permanent ban on Iran’s nuclear enrichment as U.S.–Iran talks teeter on the edge in Islamabad, even starting a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz that’s sent gas prices soaring and left shipping at a standstill. At home, he tries to change the subject with a populist “no tax on tips” push aimed at service workers and creators. Yet, nervous chatter—even from MAGA loyalists—about the 25th Amendment hints at pressure inside his own camp.

Featuring insights and polling from NPR, EWTN, Los Angeles Times, PBS, NBC, and the New York Post.

Powered by Apisod.com