Pastor Jeffress Claims Trump Outshines Pope Leo XIV in Biblical Knowledge

“Trump knows the Bible better than the Pope!” Pastor Robert Jeffress, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas and a staunch ally of Donald Trump, dropped this bombshell on Fox News, igniting a firestorm of debate. This audacious claim comes as the relationship between the White House and the Vatican hits rock bottom.

During his Fox News appearance, Jeffress recounted a recent Oval Office visit with Trump, just days after the U.S. launched an attack on Iran. He shared this moment on his verified X account, where he provocatively discussed “the Pope, the President, and UFOs.” Jeffress left viewers with the impression that Trump’s biblical knowledge surpasses that of Pope Leo XIV when it comes to governance.

In a clear delineation between church and state, Jeffress stated, “The pope ought to know that God created both the church and government for distinct purposes.” He emphasized that while the church’s mission is to guide people to faith in Jesus Christ, the government’s role is to shield citizens from evil.

However, he didn’t completely dismiss the pontiff. “The pope is a good man, sincere in his faith,” Jeffress acknowledged, “but he is sincerely wrong when it comes to Iran.” He then delivered his most cutting remark: “The great irony is it looks like President Trump has a better understanding of what the Bible teaches about the role of government than the pope has! And I’m glad the president hasn’t backed down at all.”

These comments come as tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV escalate. On 'The Hugh Hewitt Show,' Trump accused the pontiff of being too lenient on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, stating, “The pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. I don’t think that’s very good.” Earlier, he had labeled Leo as “WEAK on Crime” and accused him of pandering to the Radical Left.

The rift didn’t appear overnight. It first flared in October 2025 when Leo criticized those who oppose abortion yet support harsh immigration policies, prompting backlash from the White House. In November 2025, he further stated that many long-term residents are suffering due to current policies, invoking scripture to remind Catholics of their duty to welcome strangers.

By June 2025, Leo condemned U.S.-Israeli military actions against Iranian nuclear sites during his Sunday Angelus address, warning that “alarming news continues to emerge from the Middle East.” He took to X via his official Pontifex account to declare that “War does not solve problems; it amplifies them and inflicts deep wounds on history.”

Leo remains steadfast. Responding to Trump’s nuclear accusations in May 2026, he asserted, “For years, the Church has spoken out against all nuclear weapons,” urging critics to “do so truthfully.”

Jeffress isn’t just a fringe player in evangelical politics. As a Fox News contributor and leader of a 14,000-member congregation, he’s been one of Trump’s most vocal religious supporters since 2016. He was appointed to Trump’s Evangelical Advisory Board and even preached at his private inauguration service.

His willingness to engage in geopolitical debates through a theological lens isn’t new. In August 2017, he claimed that “God has endowed rulers full power to use whatever means necessary—including war—to stop evil,” specifically referencing North Korea and Trump’s authority over Kim Jong-Un.

The Jeffress interview aired just days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican for over 45 minutes. While Rubio insisted the meeting wasn’t aimed at mending relations, he acknowledged that “obviously, we had some stuff that happened.”

The Rev. Antonio Spadaro described Rubio’s visit as an effort to “cool the rhetoric,” suggesting that diplomatic channels are still open despite public disputes. Jeffress’ remarks highlight how deeply theological this Trump-Pope conflict has become. With Leo marking his first anniversary as pontiff and Rubio’s Vatican visit still fresh in memory, Jeffress’ comments signal that part of Trump’s evangelical base remains unyielding in its stance.