Vice President fired back at Vatican criticism of the administration on, telling to “stick to matters of morality” and stay out of American public policy.
Vance joined “Special Report” to defend the president, defining a firm line between the popes religious authority and the presidents role in protecting the United States.
“I certainly think that in some cases, it would be best for of morality,” Vance told Fox Newss Bret Baier Monday. “And let the President of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.”
The first American pope has been critical of the Trump administrations stances on issues like immigration and the conflict in Iran. Over the weekend, President Trump posted on Truth Social criticizing the religious leader.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” he wrote, adding, “I dont want a Pope who thinks its OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Speaking with reporters, the Trump administration or trying to be a politician. “The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do not look at my role as being political, a politician,” he added.
Vance, who has been vocal about his , said hes not concerned the president and pope are arguing, and that its natural for them to clash with opposing views.
“When they’re in conflict, they’re in conflict. I don’t worry about it too much, Bret. I think it’s a natural thing,” he said. “I’m sure it will happen in the future, and it’s not that big of a deal that it happened in the past.”
Vance added that while this is not the first time the two leaders have had disagreements, he does not expect it to be the last. Still, he said the of Pope Leo and affirmed they have a strong relationship with the Vatican.
“We certainly have a good relationship with the Vatican, but we’re also [going to] disagree on substantive questions from time to time. I think that’s a totally reasonable thing. It isn’t particularly newsworthy,” Vance said.
He also addressed the Trump shared, and later deleted, which critics said depicted the president as Jesus. The vice president dismissed the controversy as a misunderstood “joke.”
“The president was posting a joke, and of course, he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor in that case,” Vance said.
“The President of the United States likes to mix it up on social media, and I actually think that’s one of the good things about this president is that he’s not filtered,” he added.
