U.S. Vice President JD Vance has defended a controversial social media post by Donald Trump that depicted the president in a messianic image, calling it a “joke” while also suggesting that Pope Leo XIV should focus on internal Church matters.
Speaking during an interview with Fox News on April 14, Vance addressed the backlash surrounding the digitally altered image, which showed Trump portrayed as Jesus Christ. According to LifeSiteNews, Vance said, “I think the president was posting a joke and, of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people were not understanding his humor in that case.”
The image, which had circulated earlier in the year before being reposted, drew criticism from many Catholics who viewed it as irreverent. Trump later removed the post, explaining that he had initially interpreted it differently, saying he thought it depicted him “as a doctor.”
Vance emphasized that Trump’s social media style is part of his broader public persona. “I think the president of the United States likes to mix it up on social media, and I actually think that one of the good things about this president is that he is not filtered,” he said, according to the report.
The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between the U.S. administration and the Vatican, particularly regarding immigration and foreign policy. Vance acknowledged these differences, stating, “When it comes to the disagreements with the Vatican, we are going to have disagreements, from time to time. I think it’s a good thing, actually, that the Pope is advocating for the things that he cares about; but we’re always going to have disagreements on matters of public policy.”
At the same time, Vance suggested a clearer division between political governance and spiritual leadership. He remarked that “in some cases, it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality, to stick to matters of what is going on in the Catholic Church, and let the president of United States stick to dictating American public policy.”
The dispute follows a series of public exchanges between Trump and Pope Leo XIV. On April 12, Trump criticized the Pope on social media, accusing him of being “weak on crime, and terrible for foreign policy,” and raising concerns about his engagement with American political figures.
The Pope responded the following day while speaking to journalists during a flight, stating, “I am not afraid of the Trump administration,” and reaffirming that his words and actions are rooted in the Gospel. He also indicated that he would continue to speak out against war while avoiding direct political confrontation.
According to LifeSiteNews, questions have also arisen surrounding a recent Vatican meeting between Pope Leo XIV and political adviser David Axelrod. However, no official transcript has been released, and the Holy See has not provided details regarding the purpose or content of the discussion.
As the situation continues to unfold, the exchange highlights an ongoing tension between political authority and the moral voice of the Church—an issue that has long shaped the relationship between secular leadership and the papacy.
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