The Trump White House had perhaps a surprising reaction to past criticism of the president by newly elected Pope Leo XIV. Before becoming pontiff, the former Robert Prevost, a native of Illinois, had reposted items critical of President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance on social media.

That would be my number one choice,” he said at the time. The image shows Trump dressed in a white garment wearing a pope’s hat and a necklace with a cross hanging around his neck. He is sitting in a chair with his index finger pointed upwards.