...
By Sam Stevenson
Associate News Editor
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Republican views of Pope Leo XIV fell sharply during his public dispute with President Donald Trump earlier this year before partially rebounding in a new survey released this week, according to Economist/YouGov polling.
Among Republicans, the pope's net favorability fell from +26 in May 2025 to -13 at the peak of the dispute in April 2026 before recovering to +3 in June, a 39-point decline followed by a 16-point rebound.
At the same time, Democratic opinion moved in the opposite direction—becoming more positive toward the pope during the feud.
Read More on News
This movement points to a clear partisan split, with the episode pushing Republicans and Democrats in different directions rather than shifting opinion overall, highlighting the extent to which even religious figures are now filtered through polarized politics.
Newsweek contacted the Vatican via email on Thursday morning for comment.
Why It Matters
The polling highlights how partisan identity increasingly shapes Americans' views of public figures beyond politics. Despite remaining broadly popular nationwide, Leo's standing among Republicans and Democrats moved sharply in opposite directions during his public dispute with Trump.
Republican Support Rebounds After Sharp Decline
Among Republicans, Pope Leo’s standing shows a pronounced arc.
- May 2025: Favorable 43 percent, Unfavorable 17 percent → Net +26
- April 2026 (peak of the dispute): Favorable 34 percent, Unfavorable 47 percent → Net -13
- June 2026: Favorable 42 percent, Unfavorable 39 percent → Net +3
That represents an almost 40-point net decline during the height of the dispute, followed by a 16-point recovery.
The pattern suggests an immediate backlash during the confrontation—likely reflecting alignment with Trump—followed by a partial normalization once the intensity of the clash diminished.
...
Democrats Did the Opposite
Democratic voters moved in the opposite direction over the same period:
- May 2025: Net +55
- April 2026 peak: Net +76
- June 2026: Net +73
Rather than declining during the clash, the pope’s standing improved among Democrats—indicating that the dispute itself may have increased support among voters already inclined to oppose Trump.
Taken together, the data shows not just movement, but polarization—with the same event pushing different groups in opposite directions.
Pope Remains More Popular Than Trump Nationally
All surveys were conducted using YouGov’s opt-in panel and weighted by demographics including age, race, education, region, voting history, and party identification to reflect the U.S. population.
Nationally, Pope Leo's favorability remained largely stable, moving from a net +35 in May 2025 to +31 in April 2026 and +32 in the latest survey.
Trump moved in the opposite direction, falling from -8 to -16 and then -22 over the same period.
What the Data Shows
Across these polls, Trump’s numbers show a clear decline, moving from -8 net favorability in May 2025 to -22 by June 2026, a deterioration of 14 points. Pope Leo’s ratings, by contrast, remain broadly stable at a high level—slipping slightly from +35 to around +31/+32—suggesting his overall standing has held despite fluctuations in subgroup opinion.
This combination—stable overall ratings but volatile partisan reactions—points to polarization rather than a fundamental shift in public perception.
...
Timeline Of Trump’s Clash With The Pope
Timeline of the Trump-Pope Feud
May 2025
- Leo elected first American pope.
January-February 2026
- Tensions emerge over immigration and foreign policy.
March-April 2026
- Dispute escalates over the Iran conflict.
- Trump publicly criticizes the pope's comments.
April 2026 (Peak of dispute)
- Republican favorability toward Leo turns negative.
May-June 2026
- Polling shows a partial rebound among Republicans.
What Happens Next
Future polling will show whether the rebound in Republican support continues or whether attitudes toward Pope Leo remain more divided than they were before the dispute.
The latest data suggests the sharpest partisan reactions have softened, but Republicans and Democrats still view the pontiff very differently.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines