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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Rhian Lubin

Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of Trump and Hegseth’s religious rhetoric

  • A new poll indicates Americans overwhelmingly disapprove of religious rhetoric deployed by Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • Trump's AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus on Truth Social received 87% disapproval, while Hegseth's prayer for “overwhelming violence” at the Pentagon was disliked by 69%.
  • Conversely, Pope Leo XIV is viewed positively, with 66% of Americans reacting favorably to his message rejecting war and his opposition to the administration's policies.
  • Trump baselessly accused Pope Leo XIV of “endangering Catholics” by supporting Iran's nuclear program, a claim the pontiff refuted by reaffirming the Church's long-standing opposition to all nuclear weapons.
  • Experts criticize Hegseth's religious language for potentially undermining the separation of church and state and risking conflict escalation, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio prepares to meet Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.

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