A conservative Christian pastor has made the extraordinary claim that President Donald Trump possesses a superior understanding of biblical teachings compared to Pope Leo XIV. Pastor Robert Jeffress, a prominent supporter of the president, voiced this opinion during a Fox News segment discussing the recent meeting between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the first American pope.
Trump vs. Pope Leo: A Clash Over Iran
Tensions between the White House and the Vatican have escalated after Pope Leo urged Catholics to pray for a peaceful resolution to the conflict with Iran, without explicitly naming President Trump. In response, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to denounce the pope as “weak” on crime and accused him of underestimating the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Jeffress, pastor of the Dallas-based First Baptist Church, defended Trump’s stance, asserting that the president’s position aligns more closely with biblical principles.
“The Pope is a good man, he’s sincere in his faith, but he’s sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran,” Jeffress told Fox News. “It looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches than the Pope.”
Jeffress’s Longstanding Support for Trump
Jeffress, who leads a megachurch in the Dallas area, has been a steadfast ally of Trump since his 2016 presidential campaign. He has frequently participated in meetings with faith leaders at the White House and has led prayers alongside the president in the Oval Office. This is not the first time Jeffress has defended Trump’s criticism of the pope. In April, he told the Religion News Service, “What the president said was absolutely correct. Pope Leo apparently doesn’t have a biblical understanding of what the government’s role is in protecting its citizens from those who would do us harm both from within and without our country.”
Trump’s Religious Outreach and Controversies
Trump has actively courted evangelical voters, selling special editions of the Bible—dubbed “God Bless the USA Bible”—which include the King James Version alongside the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance. The books also feature a handwritten chorus from Lee Greenwood’s song “God Bless the USA.” Last month, Trump participated in a Bible-reading marathon, reciting 2 Chronicles 7:11–22, a passage often cited by those who believe the United States was founded as a Christian nation.
However, critics have questioned Trump’s familiarity with scripture. In 2016, during a speech at Liberty University, he mistakenly referred to Second Corinthians as “Two Corinthians.” In 2020, he appeared to hold a Bible upside down during a photo op outside St. John’s Church in Washington, D.C. This week, Trump accused the pope of “endangering Catholics” and claimed the Vatican supported Iran’s nuclear program, allegations Pope Leo flatly denied.
“The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” Leo said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let them do so truthfully. For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt on that point.”
Controversial Imagery and Statues
Trump also faced backlash for posting an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ healing the sick. After criticism from prominent Christian commentators and some Republican lawmakers, the image was deleted. Additionally, a group of pastors held a dedication ceremony for a gold statue of Trump at his Miami golf course, Trump National Doral. The president attended via phone call.
“Let me be clear: this is not a golden calf,” Mark Burns, a member of Pastors for Trump, wrote on Facebook. “This statue is a celebration of life. It is a symbol of resilience, freedom, patriotism, strength, and the will power to keep fighting for the future of America.” Jeffress declined to comment on the statue when questioned by the Religion News Service.
