‘Textbook blasphemy’: Notre Dame students surprised and dismayed by Trump’s feud with Pope Leo | CNN Politics

At one of the United States’ best-known Catholic institutions, students were siding with Pope Leo XIV over President Donald Trump in the wake of Trump’s clash with the pontiff over the Iran war and raising concerns about his recent social media post seemingly depicting himself as Jesus. “I found it incredibly disrespectful — especially the AI image of him portraying himself as Jesus,” said Sarah Jones, an undergraduate student from North Carolina who considers herself a moderate independent. Jones said it was “weird” that Trump deleted the post and claimed he thought the image portrayed him as a doctor. Even stranger, she said, was Trump targeting Pope Leo “just for being for peace.” Just weeks ago, Jones noted, the president had praised Notre Dame as he mourned the Catholic university’s legendary football coach, Lou Holtz, who was an outspoken Trump supporter. “It’s a complete 180,” she said. “What is going on in your head that would make you say these things, or like, do any of this?” Trump has clashed in recent days with Pope Leo who has become increasingly vocal in criticizing the administration’s approach to the war with Iran — bringing bipart