Late-night hosts have been buzzing over the recent fallout between Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, especially after Trump’s harsh social media posts following the Pope’s Easter message calling for peace.
Jon Stewart took the spotlight, humorously questioning why anyone would take issue with a peaceful message from the Pope. Stewart remarked, “I can’t fathom anyone finding a problem with it—except Trump.” The former president labeled the Pope as “weak” and a “loser” on his Truth Social account. Stewart further joked about Trump’s target on the Vatican, pointing out a shared historical penchant for avoiding scandal.
Stewart also highlighted a bizarre image that Trump shared, where he portrayed himself as a Christian savior. “I didn’t realize we were at leper territory!” Stewart quipped about the image, which sparked significant backlash—even among conservative commentators. When pressed about the now-deleted post, Trump claimed it depicted him as a doctor. Stewart’s response? “Do you even care about lying to us anymore?”
Stephen Colbert weighed in on the collapse of US-Iran peace talks, using JD Vance’s awkward attempt to deflect blame as comedy fodder. “No one was blaming the Pakistanis!” Colbert joked, likening it to an absurd excuse in a relationship. He then mocked Trump’s threat of a blockade on Iran, turning it into a farcical chess game: “It’s like a plumber making a clog even worse.”
Colbert also pointed out the shocking nature of Trump’s public attacks on the Pope, noting how history remembers figures like Hitler for similar disrespect. “It’s a bold move when you’re compared to Hitler for a lack of decorum,” he chided.
Jimmy Kimmel chimed in as well, likening their feud to a bizarre episode of “South Park.” He shared Trump’s AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, quipping, “His hands are normal size! That’s unrealistic.” Kimmel stressed that this portrayal did not sit well with many Christians, prompting Trump to quickly delete the image—a rarity for his social media activity.
Kimmel called Trump irresponsible and cowardly for attempting to downplay his Jesus-like image as just him being a doctor. “I can’t decide what’s more offensive,” he said, “how dumb he is or how dumb he thinks we are.”
The clash between Trump and the Pope highlights the ongoing tensions in American politics. Pope Leo XIV, a figure of moral authority, is viewed differently across the political spectrum. A recent Gallup poll found that almost 70% of Americans hold a favorable view of the Pope, showing just how stark Trump’s reaction appears to many.
As this story unfolds, reactions continue to demonstrate the stark divide in public opinion regarding Trump’s behavior and the role of religious figures in political discourse. Social media reactions have been mixed, with some defending Trump while others are increasingly skeptical of his rhetoric and behavior.
For more on the implications of these public statements and their effect on American political discourse, check out this analysis from Pew Research.
