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Catholic Trump voters graded Pope Leo XIV more harshly for criticizing war than they graded President Donald Trump for committing the blasphemy of presenting himself as Jesus.
While the general public is reacting harshly to Trump’s recent AI calamity, unscientific surveys conducted by Bulwark staff last week reveled that Trump-voting Catholics imposed a higher standard upon Pope Leo that they did not apply to the president.
“The one thing that we don't like about him is also the one thing that we do like about him,’ said one 2024 Trump voter who presented himself as Catholic. “[Trump] doesn't ask for permission. He doesn't take prisoners. He says what he wants and then he does what he wants. And that's one of the things that we like about him that makes him not a politician.”
“I'm not so upset about what he said to Leo because he has every right,” said another Trump voter, defending the president for proclaiming the Pope “WEAK on Crime.” “Leo has his own house to clean, … and he needs to worry about the Catholic church and let [Trump] take care of business.”
Among the Catholic Trump voters who responded to the survey, Bulwark Editor Sarah Longwell said five awarded Trump A's, three B's and one C.”
“These were the highest grades I have seen a group [of Trump voters] give Trump,” said Longwell, adding that most Trump voters in most surveys these days awarded Trump “B's and C's.”
“I haven't seen him get an ‘A’ in a really long time. And this was a group full of A's,” said Longwell.
Bulwark editor Jonathan Last, however, could not bear what he called the double standard, and he blasted one respondent for saying “I just think the Pope's trying to become very judgmental on something that's not his realm.”
“How dare a Catholic Pope be judgmental.” Last said, mockingly. “… Only six of them were upset, and of the six, I think all of them gave some version of, ‘But, you know, yeah, I didn't love [the Jesus meme]. But also, I love that he does stuff like this. And this is kind of why we like him. I just wish he didn't do this one.’”
Last went on to complain that one Catholic Trump voter said sometimes Trump’s “delivery is off, but he's truthful,” and pronounced it “important that somebody has those values.”
“She's talking about the values of just saying what's on your mind,” said Last. “But notice that doesn't apply to the Pope. The Pope can't just say, ‘I do think war is bad.’ When that happens, all f—— hell breaks loose. But when Donald Trump says, ‘look at me, I might be like the late great Jesus, or even better: He rose on the third day. I could have done it in two. And they're like, ‘well, you know, it's a little out there, but I do like that he's honest — these f—— people! The Pope has a line he can't cross or they will turn their back on the teachings of the Catholic Church. But the president? No lines.”
“Yep. That is the takeaway,” said Longwell. “In the battle between Trump and the Pope, these Catholics take Trump.”