Joshua Bennett
Former US President Donald Trump has made several comments about Catholics, including describing himself as a longtime supporter of the Catholic Church. Trump has also accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being destructive to Christianity and anti-Catholic, claiming that Catholics are treated worse than anybody by the Biden administration. Trump has also criticised Harris for an incident during one of her campaign rallies where two college students were asked to leave after shouting Jesus is Lord. In response to this incident, Trump said, She heard shouting from the background: Jesus is Lord; Jesus is Lord. Trump has also claimed that the Democratic Party is anti-Catholic and that Catholics have been persecuted by the Biden administration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Trump's opinion on Catholics voting for Kamala Harris | "Any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined" |
| Trump's opinion on the Catholic Church | "I like the Catholic Church, a lot" |
| Trump's opinion on Catholics being targeted by the Democratic Party | "I don't know how a Catholic can vote for the Democrats because they're after the Catholics almost as much as they're after me" |
| Trump's opinion on Catholics being persecuted by the Biden administration | "Catholics are literally being persecuted by this Administration" |
| Trump's opinion on Pope Francis | "I think [Francis] wants [Catholics] to vote for me, and I stand for everything that you stand for and that the church stands for" |
| Trump's opinion on Cardinal Timothy Dolan | "We have a cardinal that happens to be out of a place called New York who's very good, so we'll see what happens" |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's comments on Kamala Harris and Catholics
In an interview with Raymond Arroyo of the Eternal Word Television Network, former US President Donald Trump described himself as a "'longtime supporter' of the Catholic Church. Trump also claimed that Pope Francis wanted Catholics to vote for him, stating that he stands for everything that the Catholic Church stands for. Trump's comments on his support for the Catholic Church came just before the 79th annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner in October 2024.
While Trump has expressed positive sentiments toward the Catholic Church, he has also been involved in controversies related to his comments about Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for president in 2024. Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against Paramount Pictures, the parent company of CBS News, alleging that they deceptively edited an interview with Harris to make him appear biased and incorrect. The lawsuit specifically claimed that CBS aired two versions of the interview, in which Harris's answers to the same question about the Israel-Hamas conflict appeared inconsistent. This incident resulted in a $16 million settlement, demonstrating the significant financial implications of disputes involving major media companies and public figures.
In another instance, Trump falsely suggested that Kamala Harris, the vice president at the time, had misled voters about her race during an appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists conference in July 2024. This comment sparked a backlash, with Harris responding to Trump's remarks while speaking to a sorority group in Houston.
Trump has also targeted Harris in relation to the Biden-Harris campaign. A new book, titled "2024: How Trump Retook the White House and the Democrats Lost America," revealed that Harris had a profane message for hesitant Democratic governors. According to the book, Harris used strong language to emphasize the importance of saving their "f--king democracy" during a gathering at the White House on July 3, 2024. This incident occurred following Biden's poor performance in the June 2024 presidential debate against Trump, which led to concerns about Biden's cognitive state.
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Trump's criticism of Biden's treatment of Catholics
In July 2024, former US President Donald Trump accused the Democratic Party of targeting Catholics, claiming that "they're after the Catholics almost as much as they're after me". Trump has repeatedly criticised the Biden administration's treatment of Catholics, asserting that they have been persecuted by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump, a self-described "longtime supporter" of the Catholic Church, has sought to appeal to Catholic voters by portraying himself as a champion of religion. He has questioned the loyalty of Catholics who support the Democratic Party, stating, "I don't know how a Catholic can vote for the Democrats".
In a July 2024 speech, Trump alleged that there was someone in the Biden administration who "doesn't like Catholics", though he doubted it was Biden himself. He also criticised Harris for an incident at one of her campaign rallies where two college students claimed they were asked to leave after shouting "Jesus is Lord". Trump claimed that Catholics under the Biden-Harris administration were treated worse than anybody.
Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, a convert to Catholicism, echoed these sentiments, calling Harris "the candidate of anti-Christian and anti-Catholic bigotry". Trump's campaign has pointed to a leaked FBI memo from February 2023, which suggested a link between "radical traditionalist" Catholics and the far-right, as evidence of the administration's negative attitude towards Catholics. However, the FBI retracted the memo and asserted that it did not reflect their standards.
Trump's criticism of the Biden-Harris administration's treatment of Catholics is part of his broader appeal to religious voters, particularly in important battleground states like North Carolina. He has also emphasised his pro-life stance, targeting the administration's prosecution of pro-life activists and their support for abortion rights.
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Trump's views on Catholics voting Democrat
In the run-up to the 2024 US presidential election, former President Donald Trump has been courting Catholic voters, claiming that the Democratic Party is "anti-Catholic". He has repeatedly stated that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody" by the Biden administration and his running mate, Kamala Harris. Trump has also criticised Harris for an incident at one of her campaign rallies where two college students were asked to leave after shouting "Jesus is Lord". He has described Harris as "destructive to Christianity" and alleged that Catholics are persecuted by the Biden-Harris administration.
In a July 2024 speech at Turning Point Action's Believers Summit, Trump said, "I don't know how a Catholic can vote for the Democrats because they're after the Catholics almost as much as they're after me... How does a Catholic person vote for a Democrat with what they're doing to Catholics? I just don't get it." Trump also questioned pro-Harris Catholics, saying that those who planned to vote for her should "have their heads examined".
Trump's views on Catholics voting for the Democratic Party are part of his broader appeal to religious voters. He has described himself as a "longtime supporter" of the Catholic Church and claimed that he likes "the Catholic Church, a lot". Trump also pointed to recent Catholic content on his social media accounts and the rendition of Ave Maria at some of his campaign rallies. He has further sought to align himself with Catholics by stating, "I think [Pope Francis] wants [Catholics] to vote for me, and I stand for everything that you stand for and that the church stands for."
Despite Trump's efforts to appeal to Catholic voters, some of his actions and comments have been controversial within Catholic circles. For example, Trump has described himself as "pro-life" but with exceptions for "life of the mother, rape and incest". Additionally, his administration cut funding for services to asylum seekers, which impacted the work of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
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Trump's support for Cardinal Timothy Dolan
In 2016, then-presidential candidate Donald Trump sparked controversy with comments that some interpreted as anti-Catholic. However, despite these remarks, Trump has also demonstrated support for prominent Catholic figures, notably Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York.
Trump's relationship with Cardinal Dolan has been viewed as a strategic move to appeal to Catholic voters and gain their support. The Cardinal is a well-respected figure in the Catholic Church and has a significant following. By associating with him, Trump likely sought to present himself as more favourable to Catholic voters, despite his previous controversial statements.
One notable instance of Trump's support for Cardinal Dolan occurred in 2016, during the presidential campaign. Trump invited Dolan to give the opening prayer at the Republican National Convention, which was a significant gesture of support and recognition. This invitation was seen as an attempt by Trump to reach out to Catholic voters and showcase his respect for their community, even though his own personal faith background is Presbyterian.
Additionally, Trump has made public statements praising Cardinal Dolan and his work. He has referred to Dolan as a "special man" and a "great leader of Christianity." These statements reflect a recognition of Dolan's influence and impact beyond just the Catholic community. By acknowledging Dolan's leadership, Trump likely aimed to gain favour with Catholic voters who hold the Cardinal in high regard.
Moreover, Trump's administration had a relatively positive relationship with the Catholic Church, particularly on issues of religious liberty and the appointment of conservative judges. Cardinal Dolan himself acknowledged this, expressing gratitude for the administration's efforts in these areas. This suggests that despite any controversial comments Trump may have made, his policies and actions while in office were viewed favourably by prominent Catholic leaders like Cardinal Dolan.
In conclusion, despite the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's comments about Catholics, his support for Cardinal Timothy Dolan cannot be overlooked. By inviting him to offer prayers at the Republican National Convention and making positive public statements about the Cardinal, Trump likely sought to appeal to Catholic voters and demonstrate his respect for their community. Cardinal Dolan's own positive remarks about the Trump administration further highlight a relationship that may have helped Trump gain some support within the Catholic community.
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Trump's self-proclaimed liking for the Catholic Church
In an interview with Raymond Arroyo of the Eternal Word Television Network, former US President Donald Trump claimed that he liked "the Catholic Church, a lot". Describing himself as a "longtime supporter" of the Catholic Church, Trump also said that he stands for everything that the Church stands for. Trump has also pointed to recent Catholic content on his social media accounts, as well as renditions of Ave Maria at some of his campaign rallies, as evidence of his affinity for the Catholic Church.
Trump has repeatedly accused the Democratic Party of being "anti-Catholic" and has claimed that Catholics have been "persecuted" by the Joe Biden administration. He has also criticised Kamala Harris for being "destructive to Christianity" and "very destructive to... the Catholic Church", alleging that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody" by Harris. Trump has further alleged that the Democrats are "after Catholics", pointing to the leaked February 2023 Richmond FBI memo as evidence of this claim.
Trump's support for the Catholic Church has also been reflected in his endorsement of Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, as a potential candidate for Pope. Despite this, some have questioned the sincerity of Trump's proclaimed liking for the Catholic Church, noting that his comments may be more motivated by political gain than genuine religious conviction.
Trump's running mate, J.D. Vance, is a convert to Catholicism, and during the 2020 election cycle, the Trump campaign established a coalition for Catholic outreach called Catholics for Trump. Trump himself describes his religious affiliation as non-denominational Christian.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump has accused Kamala Harris of being "destructive to Christianity" and alleged that Catholics are "treated worse than anybody" by her. He also said that "any Catholic that votes for Comrade Kamala Harris should have their head examined".
Trump has described the Democratic Party as anti-Catholic and has repeatedly claimed that Catholics are "persecuted" by the Joe Biden administration. He also said, "I don't know how a Catholic can vote for the Democrats because they're after the Catholics almost as much as they're after me".
Trump has said that he likes "the Catholic Church, a lot". He also said, "I think [Pope Francis] wants [Catholics] to vote for me, and I stand for everything that you stand for and that the church stands for". Trump also joked that he would like to be the Pope and backed Cardinal Timothy Dolan, the Archbishop of New York, as his favourite to be the next Pope.
Trump has sought to appeal to pro-life Catholic voters by likening himself to President Ronald Reagan and saying, "Exceptions are very important to me. Life of the mother, rape and incest". He has also criticised the Biden administration for its aggressive arrests and prosecutions of pro-life activists.
