Trump voters say the pope should 'stay in his lane' and butt out of the Iran war

Key Points:

• The ongoing conflict between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over the U.S. attack on Iran has highlighted a divide between church and state, with many Trump supporters siding with the president over the pope's calls for peace.
• Trump supporters interviewed in Las Vegas and Phoenix largely rejected the pope's criticism, viewing it as an inappropriate political intrusion, and expressed strong backing for Trump's military actions against Iran.
• Pope Leo XIV, emphasizing peace and dialogue, condemned military action, while Trump accused the pope of being weak on foreign policy and defended the necessity of confronting Iran's regime and nuclear ambitions.
• Religious scholars and leaders assert that addressing war and peace falls within the church's moral responsibilities, countering the view that the pope is overstepping by commenting on armed conflict.
• Trump has cultivated a narrative of divine favor surrounding his presidency, with some supporters interpreting his policies and actions, including the Iran war, as aligned with God's will despite the pope's opposition.