CNN's Harry Enten speculated why President Donald Trump has been attacking the first U.S.-born pope.
The 79-year-old president has been lobbing personal attacks at Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of the war against Iran and other global conflicts, and the data analyst presented public approval polling that showed Americans have a clear favorite between the two public figures.
"Maybe President Trump is jealous of Pope Leo XIV because it is a blowout," Enten said. "It is a blowout, and this is just the American public at large. Look at this: It is a blowout on the net popularity rating. Pope Leo XIV at plus-34. Look at where Donald Trump is at minus-12. It's not even close. It's a nearly 50-point blowout amongst the American public at large.
"Pope Leo XIV absolutely crushing President Trump when it comes to how popular they are, at least as of the last month, and I will note that Pope Leo was the most popular person tested by NBC News. I believe the president is making a humongous mistake going after the most popular guy in America, at least a well-known guy."
Trump won re-election, in part, due to backing from Catholic voters, but that support has largely evaporated already.
"There's a reason why the pope is smiling there," Enten said. "How about among American Catholics? President Trump is struggling with American Catholics. Look at this, maybe this is part of the reason why he's going after the pope. U.S. Catholics on Trump, you know, you go back to November of 2024. Look at this, President Trump crushed, crushed Kamala Harris by 20 points.
"But down he goes, down he goes into the Dead Sea. Look at this, minus-four points. That's a nearly 25-point switcheroo in the wrong direction. The president has been struggling with Catholics, and I must say, in my expert opinion, I'm not quite sure that going after the pope is the way to recover with Catholics."
Pope Leo XIV is far more popular with Catholics than the president, and they also don't like the war at the center of their public dispute.
"Net approval rating among U.S. Catholics, U.S. military action against Iran, minus-10 points – quite negative," Enten said. "You think that's low, though, come over to this side of the screen. Trump on Iran, look at this, they're even more sour on Trump – 20 points underwater. So the bottom line is this: The pope is emblematic of Catholics here in the United States. The pope is far more popular with the American public than Trump is here in the United States, and Trump has been struggling with Catholics here in the United States, very much so, losing a lot of ground, as you see right here on nearly 25 points for Trump, and this ain't going to help."
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