JD Vance (U.S. Senator from Ohio) has publicly defended former President Donald Trump amid a dispute with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war. The conflict began when Pope Leo criticized the U.S. approach to the war, suggesting a 'delusion of omnipotence' among its leaders. In response, Vance stated that the Vatican should focus on moral issues and allow the president to dictate American public policy. Trump reacted to the Pope's comments with anger, accusing him of being 'weak on crime' and sharing an AI-generated meme depicting himself as a Jesus-like figure, which drew significant backlash and was later deleted. Vance dismissed the controversy, asserting it is normal for disagreements to arise between the Vatican and U.S. leadership on public policy matters. He emphasized that Trump has the prerogative to set foreign and immigration policy, and while there may be disagreements, the relationship with the Vatican remains important.