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The internet did not have to wait long for one possible answer.
Shortly after his election, old posts from an X account associated with Robert Prevost began circulating widely. The posts included links, reposts, and messages criticizing positions associated with Trump and Vice President JD Vance—particularly on immigration and the treatment of migrants.
Suddenly, social media was filled with a dramatic claim:
“The new Pope is NOT a fan of Donald Trump!”
But is that really what the posts prove?
The answer is more complicated than the viral headline suggests.
The resurfaced social media activity does show that, before becoming pope, Prevost publicly shared material critical of certain Trump administration policies and strongly disagreed with some statements made by JD Vance. However, it would be inaccurate to reduce his entire outlook to a simple personal dislike of Donald Trump.
The posts reveal something more interesting: a religious leader whose public statements appeared to place Catholic teaching on migrants, human dignity, and care for vulnerable people above political loyalty.
A New Pope and an Unexpected Digital History
For centuries, people trying to understand a newly elected pope might have examined old sermons, books, theological writings, or interviews.
Pope Leo XIV presented the modern world with something different.
A social media history.
Before his election, Robert Prevost had an account on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, using the handle @drprevost. The account had been active for years and included posts and reposts connected to Catholic life, Church issues, social concerns, and occasionally American politics.
After white smoke rose from the Vatican and Prevost emerged as Pope Leo XIV, people immediately began examining that digital record.
What they found attracted enormous attention.
Several posts appeared critical of immigration policies associated with Donald Trump.
Others took issue with arguments made by Vice President JD Vance.
For supporters and critics of the Trump administration alike, the discovery became a major talking point.
