Mike Pence just made it clear he thinks Donald Trump should’ve kept his hands off the pope’s job. The former vice president told MS NOW in an interview clip posted on April 23, 2026, that if he were still advising Trump, he’d tell him to “let the pope be the pope and you be the president.” When asked if he’d actually shared this advice with Trump directly, he admitted the two don’t talk as often as they used to.
But he added, “I get the distinct impression he still listens to us and watches what we do.” That’s a polite way of saying he’s not exactly in the loop anymore, but he’s still trying to steer the ship from the sidelines. It’s a shift from the days when Pence was the loyal number two, now stepping into the role of the guy who’s willing to say what others won’t, even if it’s just to a reporter.
