"Trump responded to Orbán’s defeat with a long screed attacking Pope Leo XIV. ...

Today is Orthodox Easter, and about 45 minutes after attacking the Pope, Trump posted an image of himself in the place of Jesus, apparently healing a sick man in a bed, surrounded by a soldier, a nurse, a woman praying, and an older man."

~ Heather Cox Richardson

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/1

https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/april-12-2026

April 12, 2026

By the end of 2024, inflation in the U.S., which had soared in the aftermath of the Covid-19 lockdowns, was almost back to the Federal Reserve’s goal of 2%.

Letters from an American

"Behind him are the Statue of Liberty, the Lincoln Memorial, and a giant American flag, while in the sky are two eagles, three fighter jets, soldiers, and what seems to be a monster.

Amid popular revulsion at what people are calling heresy and blasphemy, former U.S. representative Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote: 'It’s more than blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist spirit.'”

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/2

"A minute after posting the image of himself as Jesus, Trump posted an image of a Trump tower on the moon."

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/3

Here are screenshots of the postings Heather Cox Richardson is describing above:

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/4

"This morning, the President, for the second Sunday in a row, talked openly of committing war crimes in Iran.

He’s ending his day attacking the Pope, whom he refers to as 'Leo,' on Truth Social. ...

But that’s not all. Trump closed out the day by posting two images on Truth Social. One portraying Trump Tower on the Moon (presumably).

And the other depicts Trump as a god-like healer.

The president is not well."

~ Joyce Vance

#PopeLeo #Trump
/5

https://joycevance.substack.com/p/the-week-ahead-4b1

The Week Ahead

April 12, 2026

Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance

"In the aftermath of Orbán’s loss, it was clear that Trump is aware of his precarious position.

After a 60 Minutes story about cardinals speaking out in the wake of Pope Leo’s statements critical of actions backed by the Trump administration, Trump lashed out at Pope Leo — the first pope born in the United States — with a deranged Truth social post declaring, 'Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.'”

~ Chris Geidner

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/6

https://www.lawdork.com/p/theyre-so-much-weaker-than-they-want

They're so much weaker than they want us to think they are

Orbán's out. J.D. Vance's weekend of shame. And a rant from the man at the White House. Also: The ballroom and the D.C. Circuit. And, for paid subscribers: Closing my tabs.

Law Dork

"It went downhill from there.

It was not the response of a man with any confidence in his standing."

#PopeLeo #Trump #Orbán
/7

"A full-blown MAGA civil war has erupted, larger than anything we’ve seen before, after the President posted an image of himself as Jesus and then spent the night attacking the Pope. This morning, MAGA influencers, politicians, and commentators are openly denouncing him, calling this a line that should not have been crossed."

~ Aaron Parnas

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/8

https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/major-news-maga-erupts-as-trump-posts

Major News: MAGA Erupts as Trump Posts Himself as Jesus, the Pope Tells Trump he is 'Not Afraid,' Trump Launches Naval Blockade

Good morning everyone.

The Parnas Perspective

"A serious fracture is now out in the open, unfolding as the Pope declares he does not fear Trump and as the administration moves forward with a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting today."

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/9

"Pope Leo’s election gave the world another globally influential U.S. figure who could be a foil to Trump and by extension, Vance. From now to 2028, we’re unfortunately all stuck on this runaway train as one man (Trump) attempts to usurp democracy to remain in power, another (Vance) attempts a rise to power in his own right as heir-apparent," (continued in /11)

~ Ashley Hildebrand

#PopeLeo #Trump #JDVance
/12

https://www.altrightdelete.news/p/jd-and-the-pope

JD and the Pope

What you need to know about JD Vance and the Vatican

Ctrl Alt Right Delete

(continued from /11)

"and a third (Pope Leo) balances the influence that he plays on the global stage as both American and leader of the Catholic Church.

It really boils down to this: JD Vance, like so many before him, uses the trappings of the church to prop up his own agenda rather than live out the fully rounded teachings 53 million Catholic Americans learned in Sunday School."

#PopeLeo #Trump #JDVance
/13

"A Trump/Vance presidency and the threats they pose to the future bring us closer to a Christian nationalism that Paul Weyrich dreamed of and our founding fathers warned against. It’s certainly surprising, though not unwelcome, that the leader of the Catholic Church might be the best chance we have to push back against their political crusade for power."

#PopeLeo #Trump #JDVance
/14

Julie Roginsky asks:

"MAGA’s Jesus problem: What comes next, now that Trump has deified himself? …

The right is now split between people who still think Jesus Christ transcends Trump and people who have decided that impersonating Christ is fine as long as Trump is the one wearing the halo.

That tells you everything you need to know about the spiritual condition of this movement and what will come next."

#PopeLeo #Trump
/15

https://saltypolitics.substack.com/p/magas-jesus-problem

MAGA’s Jesus Problem

What comes next, now that Trump has deified himself

Salty Politics with Julie Roginsky

As Evan Hurst reports, Trump has now deleted the graphic showing him as Jesus healing the sick, because there was extensive MAGA dismay at the graphic. Hurst surveys critical comments MAGA folks have made about the graphic.

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/16

https://www.wonkette.com/p/jesus-trump-deletes-pic-of-himself

Jesus Trump Deletes Pic Of Himself Healing Sick Because MAGA Is Booooooring

Welp.

Wonkette

Robyn Pennacchia notes that Pope Leo's statements about war and peace have some MAGA white evangelicals now saying they understand why questions have been raised about electing a Catholic president (like, say, Joe Biden). Megan Basham of Daily Wire writes that she doesn't want a pope dictating US foreign policy.

Pennacchia responds sarcastically:

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA #WhiteEvangelicals
/17

https://www.wonkette.com/p/holy-pope-drama

Holy Pope Drama!

The President is fighting the Pope, because 2026.

Wonkette

"I guess it’s a good thing, then, that no evangelical Protestants ever weigh in on politics or try to dictate our foreign policy or try to use said foreign policy to bring about a literal apocalypse. That would be bad!"

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA #WhiteEvangelicals
/18

"Though I’m not certain how 'ecumenical' it is that, again, one of their main guys thinks Catholics shouldn’t be allowed to have parades or that pretty much everyone I know who grew up in that environment also grew up believing that Catholics practice witchcraft and the Pope is the antichrist."

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA #WhiteEvangelicals
/19

"CNN’s Harry Enten noted that among American Catholics, the Pope is running at a net +34 popularity rating while Trump sits at -12. American Catholics also disapprove of the Iran war by double digits."

~ Ben Meiselas

#PopeLeo #Trump #Catholics
/20

https://www.meidasplus.com/p/monday-afternoon-news-updates-blockade

Monday Afternoon News Updates: Blockade Begins, and So Does the Fallout — 4/13/26

Hi all, Ben here.

Meidas+

"Trump has seemingly admitted defeat and deleted his post portraying himself as Jesus.

Some followers described the post as blasphemous and went as far as calling him the Antichrist.

Others demanded an apology, while a number of users expressed concern about his judgment, with some suggesting the post reflected something deeper and more troubling."

~ Aaron Parnas

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/20

https://aaronparnas.substack.com/p/news-trump-deletes-jesus-photo-as

NEWS: Trump Deletes Jesus Photo as Supporters Label Him the Antichrist, NATO Allies Reject Trump's Demands, Trump Loses in Court

We have major developments this afternoon involving President Donald Trump.

The Parnas Perspective

Trump is — of course — lying and pretending he thought the graphic he posted of himself as Jesus healing the sick was a picture of a Red Cross worker, and the media are pretending to believe the lie. But as Ron Filipkowski reports, beaucoup MAGA sorts were incensed at the blasphemy. Filipkowski lists some representative remarks from that crowd.

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/21

https://www.meidasplus.com/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-348-41326

Today in Politics, Bulletin 348. 4/13/26

… Trump posted a bizarre meme on Truth Social in the middle of the night depicting himself as Jesus laying hangs on a sick man to heal him as others gaze at him reverently.

Meidas+

"Tim Alberta with The Atlantic: 'My conviction remains: God did not ordain Trump to rescue the American church, or revive the American church, or redeem the American church. God ordained Trump to test the American church. And the American church has failed.'”

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/22

"Vatican historian Massimo Faggioli: 'Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the Pope so directly and publicly.'”

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/23

"More than half of American Catholics voted for Donald Trump in the last election. The vice president is Catholic, as is the secretary of state, and the first lady.

But forget all that. Nothing matters if Trump feels slighted. & right now, he is acting like a toddler in timeout. … Democrats have long decried the president’s mental status, & now Republicans are joining in, some even suggesting he needs to be removed from office."

~ Dan Rather

#PopeLeo #Trump #MAGA
/24

https://steady.substack.com/p/holy-hell

Holy Hell

The Pope holds his own against Trump

Steady
@wdlindsy 2/3 of #SCOTUS are #Catholic, 5 of them #conservative.
@Paxil The right-wing bloc controlling the Supreme Court is entirely Catholic except for Gorsuch, who was raised Catholic. Leonard Leo, who is Catholic, and the Federalist Society and Opus Dei, a right-wing Catholic cult, have had everything to do with creating that bloc.They do not, however, represent Catholicism globally or in the US in a monolithic way. It's a diverse religion with billions of adherents.

@wdlindsy

now would be a great time to IMPEACH the madman before he starts WWIII and destroys the planet because of his Weiner insecurities...

@wdlindsy Serious question for Catholic Law experts (Douthat ?)
If you and your boss have proclaimed yourselves above the Pope, Jesus, and God, and you have said nothing to confess and repent, is accepting Communion acceptable ?
Is Excommunication on the table ?
I'm trying to think back to my own Catholic upbringing, and I'm pretty sure this is not OK.
@jab01701mid Though Catholics of the ilk of Douthat love to decry what they call "cafeteria" Catholicism on the left, they're as guilty of that sin as anyone else, it seems to me.

@wdlindsy

Trump is — of course — lying

@wdlindsy Well, we must not forget that Barack Obama once wore a tan suit and Michelle Obama once wore a sleeveless dress. /s
@wdlindsy I don't know where y'all get your healthcare in the US - but I've been around for decades and have NEVER, I mean NEVER! had a Dr dressed as a religious figure - with light coming out of their hands = you?!?!
@wdlindsy i guess no bonus points for calling him the antichrist since 2016?
@Kierkegaanks @wdlindsy Sure, but you'll have to share it with so many people you won't all fit on the award stage.
@wdlindsy Trump’s posts show his lack of judgment and taste and his obvious mental and social disorders. His politics probably reflects more the interests of the fossil and tech billionaires whom he represents. He may also be used by them and occasionally (have to?) correct his actions, when he happened to terribly embarrass his promoters.

@wdlindsy

Not to worry on this one, they just lost 54 million Roman Catholics.

I don't usually use the Roman, it just seemed highly applicable today, April 13, 2026.

@wdlindsy Kings and tyrants have been toppled before...

@wdlindsy If Trump were a fictional character, critics would be saying he was an unrealistically cartoonish villain.

I guess sometimes, art is truth.

@wdlindsy

They probably wish he would stick with murdering Iranian schoolchildren and putting little immigrant kids in cages. No red lines there.