Full Breakdown
Pastor Robert Jeffress Claims President Trump Understands the Bible Better Than Pope Leo XIV
5/11/2026, 4:01:48 AM
Fox News Claim: Trump’s Biblical Insight vs. the Pope
On May 8, 2024, Pastor Robert Jeffress of First Baptist Church in Dallas appeared on Fox News. He asserted that President Donald Trump “has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has.” The comment sparked online criticism.
Dispute Over Iran and the Pope’s Peace Appeal
The claim emerged amid a dispute between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over action against Iran. In a meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the pope urged prayers for peace and condemned nuclear weapons, while Trump called the pontiff “weak on crime” and accused him of endangering Catholics.
Catholic Approval Rating for Trump
A Washington Post poll cited by The Letters from Leo reported that Trump’s approval among American Catholics fell to 38 percent, a ten-point decline in two years and the lowest level of his political career.
Official Statements & Responses
Jeffress criticized the Pope’s stance on Iran, describing him as sincere yet mistaken. Trump amplified Jeffress’s remarks on Truth Social, labeling the pontiff “weak on crime” and “endangering Catholics.” Pope Leo XIV said the Church’s role is to proclaim the Gospel and promote peace. Secretary Rubio said his Vatican meeting was “productive.”
Criticism & Opposition
Viewers on X condemned Jeffress’s claim as “loyalty eclipsing theology,” accusing Christians of prioritizing power over faith. Catholic commentators noted Trump’s biblical misquotations, including a reversed Bible photo and a mistaken reference to “Two Corinthians.” The Letters from Leo argued Romans 13 “does not authorize assassination,” and the Daily Beast called Trump’s biblical literacy “questionable.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on Trump’s biblical competence; The Daily Beast notes misquotations and a reversed Bible, while Jeffress cites Romans 13 as justification for force. The Pope’s claim that the Vatican opposes nuclear weapons contrasts with Trump’s allegation that the Vatican “endangers Catholics” by opposing the Iran campaign. No source verifies the Vatican’s alleged support for Iran.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has.” — Pastor Robert Jeffress, Fox News, May 8 2024
- “I thanked him then for having the courage to fulfill his God-given responsibility to protect our nation.” — Pastor Robert Jeffress, describing a post-war-on-Iran Oval Office meeting
- “The pope is a good man, he’s sincere in his faith, but he is sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran.” — Pastor Robert Jeffress, Fox News interview
- “The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” — Pope Leo XIV, press briefing after the Rubio-Vatican meeting
Why It Matters
The episode illustrates how evangelical endorsement can shape political narratives about scripture, potentially swaying Catholic voter attitudes and highlighting the clash between MAGA-aligned biblical interpretations and the Catholic Church’s just-war ethic. It underscores a broader contest over religious authority in U.S. foreign-policy debates.
