Trump trails Pope Leo by 54 points in net favorability as feud between the two continues

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump trails Pope Leo XIV by 54 points in net favorability, according to a new Economist/YouGov survey released Monday.

The poll found the first American pope holds a +32 net favorability rating, while Trump stands at -22, highlighting the broad popularity Leo has enjoyed since taking over leadership of the Catholic Church. While the comparison places two of the world's most recognizable figures side by side, it also reflects the different roles they occupy.

Trump and Pope Leo’s public clash

The survey comes against the backdrop of a growing public disagreement between Trump and the Vatican leader.

Leo is the first American pope and made headlines with his election to the role in May 2025. 

Since he started leading the Catholic Church, Leo has made it a point to promote peace efforts internationally, urging leaders to end all forms of war. 

In April, Trump knocked the leader for remarks he viewed as being directed toward ending the Iran war and alleged Leo wanted Tehran to have a nuclear weapon, sparking backlash with some Catholic Republicans. 

“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” he added.

The pope later said his comments weren’t directed at Trump and clarified his intentions by pushing for peace.  

However, Trump has not backed down. 

On Saturday, Trump criticized Leo again, this time for meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (D) at the Vatican. 

The president argued that Leo's elevation to the papacy had been influenced by the Church's desire to navigate a relationship with an American president as politically influential as Trump.

What the numbers show

The survey found both men were viewed somewhat more favorably by male respondents than female respondents, though the pope maintained significantly stronger ratings across demographic groups.

The survey found 62 per cent of women respondents viewed the president unfavorably, while 55 per cent of men did so. 

When it comes to the pontiff, 20 per cent of women said they view the pontiff unfavorably, compared to 27 per cent of men. 

For Trump, the results underscore the challenge of governing in a deeply divided political environment where public opinion remains sharply split.

Favorability ratings have long reflected partisan loyalties, and Trump's numbers have historically generated strong support among his political base while drawing opposition from critics.

The Economist/YouGov survey collected responses from May 29 to June 1 with 1,604 respondents. The margin of error for the poll is 3.5 per cent, or 3.2 per cent  for registered voters.