Rachel Evans
While it is unclear exactly how many Catholics work in the Trump White House, there are several notable Catholic figures in Trump's administration. These include White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Catholic Vote co-founder Brian Burch, and Callista Gingrich, who was appointed as ambassador to Switzerland. In addition, Trump has appointed several Catholics to his Religious Liberty Commission, including Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, Father Thomas Ferguson, and Rabbi Mark Gottlieb. Trump has also been known to consult Catholic leaders such as Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who is one of his favorite candidates for the papacy. Despite this, Trump's policies have been criticized by some Catholics as being un-Christian, particularly in regard to his rhetoric on immigrants and his support for IVF.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Catholics in Trump's senior staff | Hundreds or thousands |
| Catholic members of Trump's Cabinet | White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch, Ambassador to Switzerland Callista Gingrich, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. |
| Catholic members of the Religious Liberty Commission | Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Father Thomas Ferguson, Rabbi Mark Gottlieb, Pastor Jack Graham, Christopher Levenick, Sameerah Munshi, Bishop Robert Barron, Pastor Paula White, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Pastor Franklin Graham, Allyson Ho |
| Catholic Advisory Board members | Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Dr. Ben Carson |
| Trump's approval rating among Christians | 8 points higher than among the rest of the U.S. population |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's Catholic advisers and cabinet members
While President Trump's policies have been criticised as un-Christian, his administration has been described as "more Catholic than you know". If all of his nominees are confirmed, Trump's Cabinet would be comparable to the most Catholic Cabinet in history. More than a third of his nominees are Catholic, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Trump has also tapped Catholics for other top positions, including White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, Catholic Vote co-founder Brian Burch (ambassador to the Holy See), and Callista Gingrich (wife of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich), who is the ambassador to Switzerland. Elise Stefanik, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is also Catholic, although she rarely talks about her faith publicly.
Trump has also appointed Catholics to his Religious Liberty Commission, including Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades, the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. Father Thomas Ferguson, the pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria, Virginia, is also a member of the Commission.
In addition to his Catholic advisers and cabinet members, Trump has significantly expanded the influence of conservative Christians in the White House. He has also joked about becoming the next Pope, posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed in papal robes on social media, which drew criticism from some Catholics.
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The influence of conservative Christians in the White House
While it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of Catholics in the Trump White House, sources indicate that there are hundreds if not thousands of Catholics and Christians in President Trump's senior staff who are earnestly striving to apply the precepts of their faith to American policies. These staff members take their faith seriously, with a Catholic priest in Washington, D.C. celebrating Mass for them in the White House during Trump's first administration.
Trump's second term has seen new staff members join, bringing fresh energy and ideas while continuing to advance the president's goals. Despite criticism that they are "Christian nationalists", Trump's team maintains that they are guided by Christian principles applicable to all people.
Trump has established multiple faith-related entities, including the White House Faith Office, led by evangelist Paula White-Cain, and a Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias, led by Attorney General Pam Bondi. He has also signed an executive order creating the Religious Liberty Commission, which includes religious leaders, legal experts, and lay advisors. Critics argue that Trump's religious agenda will primarily benefit conservative Christians, granting them privileged status.
Trump's administration has been praised for its support of international religious liberty, such as in the case of a man punished by the UK for praying outside an abortion facility. However, some Catholics express concerns about the President's approach to certain countries and his support for IVF, which contradicts Catholic teaching.
Trump's approval rating among Christians is notably higher than among the general US population, and his administration has been regarded as more Catholic than commonly perceived. While some critics argue that his policies are un-Christian, others attribute this perception to the corrupting nature of modern society and ideology.
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Applying Catholic faith to US policy
While the Trump administration has been criticized for its apparent lack of alignment with Catholic teachings, it is worth noting that there are several Catholics in the White House who strive to apply their faith to US policy.
Religious Liberty Commission
President Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission through an executive order. He appointed Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as chair and Dr. Ben Carson as vice-chair, alongside 11 other commission members. These members include religious leaders, legal experts, and lay advisors from various faiths, including Catholicism. For example, Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco and a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop Kevin Rhoades, the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, who chairs the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty.
Senior Staff and Advisors
The Trump administration includes several Catholics among its senior staff and advisors. While they may operate outside the limelight, they are described as taking their faith seriously and attempting to apply Catholic principles to US policy. This includes Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Scott Turner and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have been seen leading prayers during cabinet meetings.
Foreign Policy and Social Issues
The Trump administration has been an advocate for international religious liberty, as seen in JD Vance's speech in Munich. However, the administration's approach to countries like Ukraine and the President's rhetoric towards immigrants have raised concerns among Catholics. On social issues, the administration's support for IVF and its immigration policies have been at odds with Catholic teachings.
Christian Democratic Ideology
Catholic political movements have historically promoted socially and morally conservative ideas, such as traditional family values and a culture of life. They generally support alternatives to unrestrained capitalism and state socialism. While the Trump administration may not align perfectly with Catholic teachings, some argue that it comes closer than previous administrations. They point to policies that uphold national sovereignty and the duties owed to citizens, promoting Christian democratic values.
In conclusion, while there are Catholics in the Trump White House, the administration's policies only partially reflect Catholic teachings. The application of Catholic faith to US policy is a complex and ongoing process, influenced by various factors and the interpretations of those in power.
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Trump's Catholic advisory board members
In 2020, Donald Trump named 34 prominent Catholics to serve as advisers to his campaign. The Catholic advisory group was formed to help Trump better understand the concerns of Catholics in the United States. The group identified several areas of special concern to Catholics, including religious liberty, pro-life issues, judicial nominations, education, healthcare, jobs, taxation, and safety and security.
Some notable members of Trump's Catholic advisory board include:
- Faith Whittlesey: Former US ambassador to Switzerland and a high-ranking political official in the Reagan White House.
- Joseph Cella: Founder of the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast and chief liaison to the Trump campaign for Catholic affairs.
- Marjorie Dannenfelser: President of the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony List.
- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.
- Francis Rooney: Former ambassador to the Vatican and the GOP nominee in Florida's 19th US House district.
- Matt Schlapp: President of the American Conservative Union.
- Former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating.
- U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot, Republican of Ohio.
- Jim Nicholson: Former Republican national chairman, secretary of veterans affairs, and ambassador to the Vatican.
- Richard Viguerie: Longtime conservative leader.
- Tom Monaghan of Michigan: Founder of Domino's Pizza and Ave Maria University.
- Rep. Mike Kelly, Republican of Butler.
- Former Republican Sen. Rick Santorum: Who ran for president in 2012 and 2016.
In May 2025, President Donald Trump also named several individuals to serve on the advisory boards of the Religious Liberty Commission. Some Catholic members of this commission include:
- Bishop Salvatore Cordileone: Archbishop of San Francisco and a member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee.
- Bishop Kevin Rhoades: Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana, and chair of the USCCB Committee on Religious Liberty.
- Father Thomas Ferguson: Pastor of Good Shepherd Parish in Alexandria, Virginia, and author of "Catholic and American: The Political Theology of John Courtney Murray."
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Catholic criticism of Trump's policies
While President Donald Trump is not a member of the Roman Catholic Church, he has a strong base of support among American Catholics. However, his relationship with the Catholic Church and its leaders has been tumultuous. Trump has made historic gains among American Catholics during his three presidential elections, with many flocking to him due to his promise to overturn Roe v. Wade, uphold religious liberty, and support conservative values.
Despite this support, Catholic officials, including Pope Francis, have criticised Trump's policies as being un-Christian and contrary to Catholic teachings. Pope Francis has been particularly vocal in his opposition to Trump's immigration policies, such as his plan to build a border wall and his mass deportation of immigrants. Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, DC, and Bishop Mark Sietz of El Paso have also spoken out against Trump's immigration policies, characterising them as a "war of fear and terror".
In addition to immigration, Pope Francis has criticised Trump's support for the death penalty and his administration's opposition to a just peace. The Pope has also taken issue with Trump's supporters in the American clergy, disciplining some prominent Trump-supporting clergy.
Trump's administration includes several Catholics, such as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Scott Turner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump's advisory boards for the Religious Liberty Commission also include Catholic leaders like Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, the Archbishop of San Francisco, and Bishop Kevin Rhoades, the Bishop of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.
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Frequently asked questions
If all of his nominees are confirmed, Trump's cabinet would be comparable to the most Catholic cabinet in history. More than a third of his nominees are Catholic.
Some of the Catholics in Trump's cabinet include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and Ambassador to Switzerland Callista Gingrich.
Trump established the Religious Liberty Commission and designated Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick as chair and Dr. Ben Carson as vice chair. He has also appointed several religious leaders, including Catholic priests and bishops, to advisory boards.
While Trump's administration is not perfectly aligned with Catholic teaching, some of his policies, such as his immigration policies, have aligned with the Church's understanding of national sovereignty. However, his support for IVF and his rhetoric towards immigrants are seen as conflicting with Catholic values.
Trump has significantly expanded the influence of conservative Christians in the White House and has the approval of many Christians. However, he has also received backlash from the Catholic community for posting an image of himself as Pope, which was considered offensive and sacrilegious, especially following the death of Pope Francis.
