NATIONAL PULSE – Two-thirds of Christians pan Messiah image

Three-in-five say criticism of Pope “unacceptable” – including more than half of Roman Catholics (54%)

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By ANGUS REID INSTITUTE

April 21, 2026 – A political provocation aimed at one of the world’s most prominent religious figures – Pope Leo XIV – is drawing widespread backlash across the United States, including from within President Donald Trump’s own base of support.

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds a clear majority of Americans (58%) say Trump’s criticism of the Pope was unacceptable, outweighing the one-in-three who view it as acceptable. Even among Roman Catholics, a group Trump has historically performed well with electorally, more than half (54%) say the comments crossed a line, underscoring the political sensitivity of attacking a religious leader

The controversy deepens with reaction to an AI-generated image shared by Trump that appeared to depict him in the place of Jesus. Two-thirds of Americans (68%) say the post went too far, including nearly as many Christians (64%), suggesting the backlash extends beyond partisan divides into cultural and religious territory. While Trump’s MAGA-aligned supporters are more forgiving, only half believe the image was intended as a joke.

The saga is certainly not helping Trump’s ailing approval. With economic criticism rising and the War in Iran proving unpopular, this issue adds to ongoing challenges for the president. Currently, 35 per cent of Americans approve of his performance, while 59 per cent disapprove. 

Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/

Download .PDF with detailed tables, graphs and methodology.