Although his brother recently made a high-profile visit to the White House, the first American-born pope says he has no intention of meeting with the U.S. president.
In his first public remarks since becoming pope, Leo XIV distanced himself from his older brother’s admiration for President Donald Trump and the MAGA movement.
Before Cardinal Robert Prevost was elected to replace the late Pope Francis this past May, his brother, Louis Prevost, had gained attention for flooding social media with pro-Trump content — including controversial memes and aggressive posts, some comparing President Joe Biden to Adolf Hitler and referring to former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi with offensive slurs.
During an appearance on Piers Morgan’s show, Louis Prevost described himself as “a MAGA guy” and admitted he might need to “dial things back” online now that his brother holds the papacy. His feed also included praise for Vice President JD Vance and a post likening Trump to Jesus Christ, which reportedly led to his May visit to the White House.
In a recent sit-down with a reporter from Catholic outlet Crux, Pope Leo acknowledged that one of his two brothers had met Trump and expressed his political views openly.
However, Leo made it clear: he has no plans to engage with the American president.
“I believe it’s more suitable for U.S. Church leaders to hold that kind of dialogue,” he said, despite having already met with around a dozen international heads of state since assuming the role.
Leo mentioned that he’s kept up with world events for many years and remains informed, but gave the impression that he doesn’t share his brother’s political leanings.
Speaking about his family, he told Crux, “We’re still very close, even though one of us is on a very different side politically — we just see things differently.”
He also stated he doesn’t intend to wade into partisan debates but feels strongly about championing causes he considers central to the Gospel message.
Shortly after his inaugural Mass, the pontiff sat down with JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what the Vatican described as “a discussion on pressing international concerns.”
Some Catholic commentators interpreted the meeting as reflecting tensions between the new pope and Trump-aligned officials — a view Leo subtly confirmed in the Crux interview.
“I brought up the importance of human dignity and treating people with respect, no matter where they’re from,” Leo said of the conversation with Vance. “It’s something I hope will be reflected in policy decisions. There are clearly issues in the U.S. that raise concern.”
He emphasized that the United States remains a major global force, adding, “But sometimes, decisions there seem to prioritize economics over dignity and basic human welfare.”
Before his election, Cardinal Prevost had criticized the Trump administration’s hardline immigration stance in multiple online posts.
Since becoming pope, Leo XIV has spoken out in favor of compassionate immigration policies, environmental protection, and support for the poor — values that place him at odds with many aspects of the current U.S. administration’s platform.
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