JD Vance Tries to Lecture the Pope About Theology
Bulwark Takes
The Bulwark
4.7 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2026
⏱️ 18 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Tim Miller gives his take to Nicolle Wallace on MS Now about Donald Trump’s escalating feud with Pope Leo. Tim breaks down president's lie that the pontiff said Iran should be allowed to have a nuclear weapon, JD Vance’s public posture on Catholicism, and the White House's easily debunked talking points to justify its Iran messaging. In between his fight with the pope, Trump also spent time trying to downplay sky-high gas prices and try to claim his ballroom is a national security concern.
Refresh your spring wardrobe with Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/BULWARKTAKES for free shipping and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too!
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hey, everybody, Tim Miller from the Bullwark here. I was on with my girl Nicole Wallace, |
| 0:04.8 | Alex Wagner, and Elizabeth Diaz is an awesome religion reporter at the New York Times |
| 0:08.7 | just a few minutes ago, and we were discussing Trump's feud with the Pope. |
| 0:14.6 | It turns out he addressed that right before I popped on with Nicole. |
| 0:20.3 | I didn't have a chance to talk about on the podcast today. |
| 0:22.6 | So I want to play for you a bit of Donald Trump's gaggle at the White House today, |
| 0:31.6 | where we can see what the messaging is from him as he flails. |
| 0:36.6 | And then after we watch Trump and I give you my takes, |
| 0:41.0 | you can stick around for some of the discussion on the feud, |
| 0:46.8 | the Leo Trump feud with Nicole Wallace. |
| 0:48.9 | I think you're going to enjoy it. |
| 0:50.5 | I really got a little loose for cable TV on J.D. Vance. I got a little loose for cable TV on J.D. Vance. So get ready for that. All right. We're to play a couple clips. First one is what sounds like Caitlin Collins. Sorry if this is not her. Asking a question to Trump about his Pope feud. Let's watch. Why are you fighting with the Pose? Are you worried it's upsetting? |
| 1:13.6 | No, no, I don't. I have to do what's right. The Pope has to understand that very simple. |
| 1:19.6 | I have nothing against the Pope. His brother's MAGA all the way. I like his brother, Lewis. |
| 1:24.6 | I'm not fighting with it. The Pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a |
| 1:29.1 | nuclear weapon. I say Iran can not have a nuclear weapon. And if the Pope looked at the 42,000 people |
| 1:35.2 | that were killed over the last two or three months as a protester with no weapons, no nothing, |
| 1:41.5 | I mean, you take a look at that, so I can disagree with the Pope. |
| 1:45.1 | I have a right to disagree with the Pope. |
| 1:48.6 | I don't know if you could hear it there with Marine One behind it and all the noise, |
| 1:53.2 | but my favorite part of that clip is just the reporter, I believe, Caitlin, saying, |
| 1:58.4 | he didn't say that when Trump says the Pope made a statement. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Bulwark, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Bulwark and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.