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Graham Advocates Trump-Pope Meeting Amid Controversy

4/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Evangelical leader Rev. Franklin Graham expressed hope for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, saying the pope could thank Trump for supporting religious freedom.
The statement followed backlash over an AI-generated image of Trump as Jesus, which Trump said was misinterpreted.
Graham defended Trump, saying the president did not intend to depict himself as Christ and criticized critics as seeking to undermine him.

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Story summary

Evangelical leader Rev. Franklin Graham expressed hope for a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, saying the pope could thank Trump for supporting religious freedom.
The statement followed backlash over an AI-generated image of Trump as Jesus, which Trump said was misinterpreted.
Graham defended Trump, saying the president did not intend to depict himself as Christ and criticized critics as seeking to undermine him.