Trump Says He's Open to Talking to Pope Leo About Immigration

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he was open to talking to Pope Leo XIV about immigration.

The Context

The new pope's brother John Prevost said in an interview with The New York Times last week that Leo is "not happy with what's going on with immigration."

Before he became pope, Leo posted several times on social media about the topic.

He once reposted a 2021 critique of Trump's immigration policies, calling for "a path rooted in human rights, not exclusion."

What To Know

In an interview on Air Force One, Fox News' Sean Hannity asked the president: "We have our first American pope—he does seem to disagree with you on immigration…would you like to talk to him about that?"

Trump answered: "Sure. I would. He was really a surprise choice."

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost—a missionary turned Vatican official who spent much of his career ministering in Peru—became the first American to hold the role of pope in the Church's history.

John Prevost described his brother's politics as being in the "middle of the road," adding, "I don't think we'll see extremes either way."

However, he said he didn't believe the new pope would "stay quiet for too long if he has something to say."

"I know he's not happy with what's going on with immigration," John Prevost continued. "I know that for a fact."

Leo's social media activity prior to his election shows he has an interest in the Trump administration's immigration policies.

On February 13, he posted a link to an article published by America, a Jesuit review, with the headline "Pope Francis' letter, JD Vance's 'ordo amoris' and what the Gospel asks of all of us on immigration."

What People Are Saying

Another brother of Leo's, Louis Prevost, who lives in Port Charlotte on Florida's Gulf Coast, told Gulf Coast News, "I just hope others, you know, here and overseas, that it doesn't turn political because, you know, oh, he's an American. He's going to screw the Church up. Hopefully that doesn't happen." He continued, "And let's just keep the nationalities, nationalism out of it. And let's just be the Catholic Church and guide the church."

Louis Prevost said during an interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored, "I don't know that I'd go that far to say he's [Robert Francis Prevost] woke. He is probably much more liberal than I am."

After Leo's election, Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!"

What Happens Next

Leo's authority began immediately after being selected as the new pope. It remains to be seen whether he and Trump will discuss immigration and what impact, if any, that will have on the issue.