Politics
Pope Leo MAGA Conflict: Why Some in the MAGA Movement See Him as an Antagonist
Pope Leo MAGA conflict
When Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected pope on Thursday, President Trump quickly extended congratulations to the first U.S.-born pontiff.
“It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope,” Trump said in a statement. “What excitement.”
However, some of Trump’s most loyal supporters didn’t share the enthusiasm.
Almost immediately after Cardinal Prevost—a native of the Chicago area who spent many years in Peru—emerged from the conclave as Pope Leo XIV, leading voices in the MAGA movement began portraying him as a rival.
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist influential in Trump’s circle, posted on social media that Leo’s leadership would mirror that of his predecessor, Pope Francis, whom she criticized as “anti-Trump, anti-MAGA, pro-open borders, and a total Marxist.”
“Catholics don’t have anything good to look forward to,” she added. “Just another Marxist puppet in the Vatican.”
The criticism continued the next day on Steve Bannon’s “War Room” podcast, where guests depicted Leo as a progressive and a continuation of Pope Francis, known for his pro-immigrant views and frequent clashes with Trump.
Bannon, a key Trump ally, called the selection “jaw-dropping” in an interview with the BBC and said there would “definitely be friction” between Pope Leo and the former president.
Although Cardinal Prevost was not widely expected to be chosen, Bannon had previously suggested his rise was possible. In an April appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored,” he noted Prevost’s ideological alignment with Francis and ties to Latin America, saying he “unfortunately” had strong chances.
Leo’s personal political views remain largely undefined. Voting records from Will County, Illinois—outside of Chicago—show he cast absentee ballots in multiple elections and participated in three Republican primaries since 2012. No record shows him voting in Democratic primaries. Illinois allows open primaries, so voters do not declare a party upon registration.
Despite this, the new pope has reportedly voiced concern over Trump’s immigration stance. A social media account linked to him shared a February article criticizing Vice President JD Vance for using Christian teachings to defend Trump’s mass deportation agenda. (The New York Times could not confirm whether Leo personally managed the account.)
John Prevost, Leo’s brother, told The New York Times that the new pope was “not happy with what’s going on with immigration.”
On other matters, Leo has expressed views aligned with conservative American Catholics. In a 2012 address to bishops, he warned against the “homosexual lifestyle” and spoke out against cultural shifts that promote values contrary to Christian teachings.
Pope Francis, who passed away two weeks ago, often clashed with conservative American Catholics during his 12-year papacy. He openly criticized Trump’s border policies and once condemned the separation of migrant families as “immoral.” He also warned against isolationism, stating that those who build walls become “prisoners of the walls they build.”
Joan Francis Plum, Leo’s cousin, said in an interview that he would likely follow a similar path to Francis.
“I think that’s why Francis brought him to the Vatican — because they were alike,” she said, noting his promotion to a senior Vatican role in 2023. “He was handpicked. He’s open-minded and compassionate.”