Trump Reacts to First American Pontiff with Praise and Optimism
WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump issued an enthusiastic statement Thursday following the historic election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope in the history of the Catholic Church.
Taking to Truth Social, Trump offered his warm congratulations:
“Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope,” Trump wrote.
“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope.”
Trump described the moment as “exciting” and said he looked forward to meeting with Pope Leo XIV in the near future.
A Historic Moment for American Catholics
Pope Leo XIV, formerly Cardinal Prevost of Chicago, represents a monumental shift in the Catholic Church’s global leadership. Born in 1955, Prevost’s election was a surprise to many, as he was considered a long shot behind Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and progressive favorite Cardinal Luis Tagle.
Instead, the College of Cardinals elected a U.S. conservative moderate with deep missionary experience and strong roots in both Latin America and canon law. While Leo XIV shares the Vatican’s progressive emphasis on climate and migration, he has firmly opposed gender ideology and female ordination, distinguishing himself from far-left clerics.
Trump and Leo XIV: A Potential Meeting of Minds?
While their stances may differ on some political issues, both Trump and Leo XIV share:
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A belief in restoring tradition and moral order
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Strong views on sovereignty, culture, and identity
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A commitment to protecting the family and resisting radical ideological trends
The potential meeting between President Trump and the new pontiff would mark a symbolic milestone, bringing together the world’s most influential political and spiritual leaders—both Americans, both global power figures, both controversial in their own right.
Bottom Line
President Trump’s swift and warm reaction to Pope Leo XIV’s election underscores the pride and opportunity many Americans feel as one of their own takes the Chair of St. Peter for the first time in history.
As Trump said, it’s more than a papal election—it’s “an honor.”
