Joshua Bennett
Former US President Donald Trump has enjoyed varying levels of support from white Catholics. While some polls suggest that white Catholics are divided in their support for Trump, with his approval ratings among this group experiencing declines, others indicate that he has won their support by large margins, particularly in swing states. White Catholics who attend Mass regularly are more likely to support Trump than those who attend less frequently. Trump's stance on issues such as abortion, immigration, and the economy may have influenced Catholic voters, but his policies and rhetoric have also been criticized by prominent Catholic leaders as incompatible with Catholic teachings and morally repugnant.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Support for Trump among white Catholics | 51% (2025) |
| Support for Trump among white Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly | 52% (2019); 56% (2024) |
| Support for Trump among white Catholics who attend Mass less often | 45% (2019); 41% (2024) |
| Support for Trump's actions to end DEI policies, cut federal departments and agencies, and increase tariffs | About half or slightly more |
| Support for Trump on immigration | 57% |
| Support for Trump on the economy | 55% |
| Support for Trump on abortion policy | 36% |
| Support for Trump's tax and spending bill | Opposed |
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What You'll Learn
White Catholics are split on Trump's performance
White Catholics are divided in their support for Trump. While some polls show that a majority of White Catholics approve of Trump's performance, others indicate a decline in support over time. For instance, a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2024 found that White Catholics mostly identify with or lean towards the Republican Party and supported Trump in the election. In contrast, a 2025 Pew Research report revealed an 8-point drop in Trump's approval rating among White Catholics, from 59% to 51%. This decline mirrors a broader trend of decreasing support for Trump among religious groups.
The level of support for Trump among White Catholics also varies depending on their frequency of church attendance. White Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly tend to exhibit higher support for Trump than those who attend less often. This pattern is also observed among White Protestants, where support for Trump is lower among regular churchgoers compared to those who do not attend church regularly.
Some analysts attribute the shift in support among White Catholics to economic concerns, suggesting that economic issues played a pivotal role in Trump's victory. Additionally, there is a perception that Catholic voters have moved significantly to the right since 2020, which may have influenced their political preferences.
However, it is important to note that White Catholics are not a monolithic group, and their views on Trump's performance are nuanced. While some White Catholics approve of Trump's actions, particularly his stance on abortion and immigration, others have expressed strong opposition to his policies. Several Catholic leaders, including Cardinal Robert McElroy, have criticized Trump's immigration policies as "inhumane" and "morally repugnant," highlighting the divide among White Catholics regarding Trump's presidency.
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White Catholics who attend Mass regularly are more likely to support Trump
This support for Trump among White Catholics who attend Mass regularly could be attributed to several factors. One factor could be the influence of religious teachings and values. White Catholics who attend Mass regularly may align more closely with the religious values promoted by the Catholic Church, such as opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Trump's stance on these issues, such as his pro-life position, may appeal to this demographic.
Another factor contributing to the support for Trump among White Catholics who attend Mass regularly could be their political leanings. White Catholics tend to identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, and Trump, as the Republican candidate, would naturally attract more support from this group. Additionally, economic concerns may have played a significant role in their voting decisions. Analysts have suggested that economic issues were among the top priorities for voters in the 2024 election, and Trump's focus on economic policies may have resonated with White Catholics who attend Mass regularly.
It is worth noting that the support for Trump among White Catholics is not universal. There are White Catholics who oppose Trump's policies and actions, particularly his immigration policies, which have been described as "inhumane" and "morally repugnant" by prominent Catholic leaders. Additionally, some White Catholics may be critical of Trump's ethics and character, finding his leadership style and personal morals incompatible with their religious beliefs.
In conclusion, while White Catholics who attend Mass regularly are more likely to support Trump, it is important to recognize that there are varying levels of support and opposition within this demographic, influenced by a combination of religious, political, and economic factors.
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Trump's support among non-white Catholics has doubled
In 2019, Trump's support among non-white Catholics doubled, rising from 13% to 26%. This is in contrast to his support among white Catholics, which has generally hovered around 50% since the early days of his presidency, with a high of 55% in April 2017 and May 2018, and a low of 36% in December 2017.
While Trump's support among non-white Catholics doubled, it is important to note that the overall percentage of approval among this group is still relatively low at 26%. Additionally, this increase in support may not be statistically significant, as the sample size of non-white Catholics in the survey may have been small.
The increase in support among non-white Catholics is surprising to some, given Trump's policies and rhetoric that have been perceived as racist and bigoted. However, it is possible that other factors, such as economic concerns, may have influenced their approval of Trump.
Among Catholics who attend Mass weekly, 52% approve of Trump's job performance, down from 60% in the first half of 2017. This group tends to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage at higher rates than Catholics overall. Catholics who attend church less often have a slightly lower approval rating, with 45% approving of Trump's performance, down from 48% two years ago.
White Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly have slightly higher support for Trump than those who attend Mass less often. This pattern is also seen among White Protestants, where regular churchgoers are more likely to support Trump than those who do not attend church regularly.
In terms of partisan differences, White Catholics mostly identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, while Black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, and religiously unaffiliated adults tend to be Democrats or Democratic-leaning independents. These religious patterns are reflected in the approval ratings of Trump, with White Catholics more likely to approve of his job performance than the other groups.
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Trump's immigration policies are unpopular with Catholic leaders
While white Catholics have traditionally leaned towards the Republican Party and supported Trump, the former president's immigration policies have been unpopular with Catholic leaders. Trump's immigration plans have attracted criticism from Catholic leaders at the national level. The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops criticized the use of sweeping generalizations to refer to immigrants and urged Trump to move away from "enforcement-only policies to just and merciful solutions." Similarly, the bishops of Colorado, another state with a large Latino population, spoke out against the rhetoric of mass deportations, which they said had created genuine fear. They committed to "walking in solidarity with our migrant brothers, sisters, and families" and advocated for comprehensive immigration reform.
Archbishop John Wester of Santa Fe, New Mexico, echoed these sentiments, stating that "overly simplistic solutions" to the immigration issue are rarely effective and that comprehensive reform is necessary. He emphasized the Catholic belief that "all human beings are children of God, brothers and sisters created in God's image." Wester's statement built on an earlier declaration by the bishops of New Mexico, who strongly opposed a policy of mass deportation of unauthorized immigrants, arguing that it would "create chaos, family separation, and the traumatization of children."
In addition to Catholic leaders, Catholic immigrants themselves have been affected by Trump's immigration policies. In July 2025, Southern California Bishop Alberto Rojas issued a rare dispensation, excusing Catholics from Sunday Mass attendance due to fears of immigration raids under the Trump administration. The Diocese of San Bernardino, the sixth-largest in the United States, serving around one million Catholics, made a similar announcement. These actions highlight the tangible impact of Trump's immigration policies on Catholic communities and the steps taken by religious leaders to protect their congregations.
While there is a divide among Catholics regarding support for Trump, with those attending Mass weekly being more likely to approve of his performance, the opposition to his immigration policies by Catholic leaders underscores a significant area of disagreement. This divergence between Catholic teachings and Trump's policies has placed the spiritual home of tens of millions of American Catholics at odds with the political framework of the Republican Party, which controls the U.S. government.
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Catholics trust Trump more on immigration and the economy
While there is some evidence to suggest that Catholics trust Trump more on immigration and the economy, the picture is more complex. Firstly, it is important to note that there is a distinction between White Catholics and non-White Catholics, with the latter group expressing more support for Trump. This may be due to economic concerns, with some analysts arguing that economic worries played a key role in Trump's victory, attracting Catholic voters. Additionally, Trump's focus on issues like immigration may have contributed to his appeal among Catholics.
On the topic of immigration, Trump's policies have been criticized by Catholic leaders, including bishops and the Pope. They have called for a more humane approach that respects the dignity of migrants and refugees. However, Trump's stance on immigration may resonate with some Catholics who prioritize border security and national sovereignty. There is a tension between these views, with Catholic teachings emphasizing both the right of countries to regulate migration and the importance of welcoming migrants.
Regarding the economy, Trump's handling of economic issues may have influenced Catholic voters, particularly those with conservative leanings. However, it is essential to consider that Catholics, like the American public, are divided in their support for Trump. Some Catholics may agree with Trump's economic policies, while others may disagree or prioritize other issues.
In summary, while economic concerns and immigration stances may have contributed to Trump's support among some Catholics, the Catholic community is diverse, and their trust in Trump cannot be generalized solely based on these factors. Other issues, such as abortion and same-sex marriage, may also influence Catholics' political preferences.
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Frequently asked questions
White Catholics are divided in their support for Trump. While some polls show that 51% of White Catholics approve of Trump's job as president, others show that 56% of Catholic voters favored Trump over Harris. Support for Trump is higher among White Catholics who attend Mass at least monthly than among those who attend less often.
Abortion is an important issue for Catholic voters, with 44% saying it will be very important in deciding how to vote. Immigration and the economy are also key issues, with Catholic voters trusting Trump more than Harris on these issues by significant margins.
Catholic Church leaders, including Cardinal Robert McElroy, have strongly criticized Trump's immigration policies as "inhumane" and "morally repugnant." They have described the deportation of immigrants as "mass, indiscriminate," and contrary to Catholic teaching.
White Catholics are more divided in their support for Trump compared to White Evangelicals, who overwhelmingly approve of him. White Catholics are also less supportive of Trump than Black Protestants, Hispanic Catholics, and religiously unaffiliated adults, who mostly disapprove of his presidency.
