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In a moment that stirred global headlines and sent social media into a frenzy, Donald Trump extended his congratulations to the newly elected Pope Robert Francis Prevost, who made history by becoming the first American to hold the papal office. The 45th President of the United States called it “a great honor” and praised the selection of a Pope from the United States, a milestone that has never happened in the nearly 2,000-year history of the Catholic Church.
Posting to Truth Social and reacting to media reports, Donald Trump expressed admiration for the momentous occasion: “To have the pope from the United States of America, that's a great honor.” The announcement of Pope Leo XIV, as Prevost will now be known, marks a significant and symbolic moment not just for American Catholics but also for the global church and its evolving leadership.
Donald Trump reacts to first American Pope: Internet lights up
Trump’s reaction was as Trumpian as ever: short, patriotic, and brimming with grandeur. But his post quickly picked up steam online, not just because of its content, but because of the sheer novelty of the moment. It’s not every day a former U.S. President congratulates a new Pope, especially one from his own country.
The reaction was a mix of genuine excitement and classic internet skepticism.
“Do you think he’ll change anything?”
While another questioned whether Trump
“Does @realDonaldTrump even know who The Pope is?”
a jab that, in true social media fashion, sparked a flurry of memes, gifs, and theological hot takes.
This combination of religion, politics, and a touch of Twitter chaos is the recipe for internet virality in 2025. Add Trump to the mix, and it’s practically guaranteed.
Robert Francis Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV, hails from Chicago, Illinois. Before ascending to the highest position in the Catholic Church, he served as the Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, a role that gave him significant influence over the selection and oversight of bishops around the world. Known for his calm leadership style and deep roots in both American and Latin American communities, Prevost has been viewed as a bridge between cultures.
His election as pope marks a turning point in the Church’s relationship with the United States. While American cardinals have long played powerful roles in the Vatican, no American had ever been elected pope until now. That alone is enough to send the religious and political world buzzing.
And then there’s the choice of name Leo XIV. A callback to earlier popes known for reform and strength, it signals both continuity and perhaps an era of assertive leadership. Of course, we’re still decoding papal tea leaves here, but symbolically, it’s loud and clear.
Donald Trump’s reaction, while simple, tapped into something larger: America loves being first. Whether it’s the moon landing, Olympic medal counts, or now the papacy, there’s a sense of national pride when someone from the U.S. hits a global milestone. Donald Trump, never one to miss a patriotic headline, naturally leaned into it.
His brief Truth Social post shared alongside a BBC article was enough to ignite headlines of its own. Major outlets like Hindustan Times and BBC picked up on it, while thousands on social media debated everything from the theological to the comedic.
And let’s be honest, between serious religious discussions and lighthearted jabs at Donald Trump’s Catholic knowledge, this story had a bit of everything.
In an age where news breaks on social media before it hits cable TV, the election of Pope Leo XIV and Trump’s response felt like the perfect cultural snapshot. One man made history in Rome, and another, thousands of miles away, logged on and made headlines with just one sentence.
What comes next for the Catholic Church under American leadership remains to be seen. But for now, the internet is doing what it does best: celebrating, questioning, and meme-ing everything in sight.
And as always, Donald Trump remains right where he likes to be, at the center of the conversation.
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