Trump

A majority of U.S. Catholic voters supported Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential victory. However, there is dismay in Catholic ranks over Trump’s verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope. Leo says he is sharing a Gospel message, not directly attacking Trump. Criticism of Trump came from Archbishop Paul Coakley and Bishop Robert Barron, who called Trump’s remarks “entirely inappropriate.” Dismay extended to conservative Christian evangelicals over another issue. Many were appalled by Trump posting an image seeming to depicting him as a Christ-like savior. By midday Monday, the image had been taken down from Truth Social.

For the Trump family, business is booming. Whereas the Trump Organization didn’t do a single deal overseas in Donald Trump’s first term as president, it did eight in the past year. It got more than double the money in four months selling Trump “meme” coins than it did in four years running a massive Washington D.C. hotel. And there are more potential conflicts as the family makes money investing in companies dependent on federal contracts and seeking taxpayer funded grants and loans. Some historians worry how Trump’s approach might influence future holders of the office.