Fact Check: Did Trump order an investigation into the Catholic Church in his post against the Pope?
WASHINGTON, DC: Amid the Trump administration’s tensions with Pope Leo XIV over his stance on the war with Iran, a rumor has been circulating on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump has ordered Todd Blanche to investigate the Catholic Church in his new social media post. Let us analyse the alleged post and fact-check the claim.
Claim: Donald Trump orders investigation into Catholic Church
The claim spread in the form of a screenshot claiming to show a post by Trump on his official X handle, which states, “It's no coincidence that this Pope is from the same city as that liberal dog Obama,” it read.
“He wants to do is humiliate Trump when the only reason he has the job is because I gave it to him. Wish he would take his little biscuits or Wafers or whatever the hell it is you people eat and go somewhere else,” the alleged post further stated.
“JD Vance has it right the Pope needs to stick his finger somewhere else besides America. Ordering Todd Blanche to investigate the Catholic Church immediately I'm sure he can find something,” it added.
Fact Check: Donald Trump never made such a post
However, Trump never made such a post on X. A search on his official X handle for the text mentioned in the screenshot yielded no results.
The last time the president posted something on X was a month ago. Hence, the screenshot is fabricated.
A search on Google for the claim also did not yield any results where Trump ordered an investigation into the Catholic Church, which, if true, would have been widely covered by prominent news media outlets.
Pope Leo XIV urges peace and dialogue amid tensions with the Trump administration
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday, April 15, delivered a pointed message on global peace and interfaith coexistence during his ongoing apostolic visit to Africa, as tensions with the White House continue.
Speaking to reporters while traveling from Algeria to Cameroon, the pontiff said his mission reflects what he described as a message the “world needs to hear” amid escalating international instability.
The remarks come against the backdrop of an increasingly visible disagreement between the Vatican and President Trump’s administration.
The president has publicly criticized the Pope’s position on the Iran conflict, while Vice President JD Vance previously suggested the pontiff should remain focused on moral guidance.
Despite the criticism, Leo XIV has continued to use international platforms to advocate for de-escalation and dialogue.
