Vice President JD Vance, a man who converted to Catholicism as an adult and has repeatedly proven himself one of the most devout and principled Catholic voices in American public life, just delivered a stinging message to Pope Leo XIV: Stick to matters of morality and leave American public policy to the President of the United States.

As previously reported, Trump blasted the Pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” particularly over the Vatican’s criticism of U.S. actions abroad, including the Iran conflict.

Pope Leo has doubled down, condemning war and warning against using religious messaging to justify violence, insisting he will “continue to speak loudly” for peace.

Vance, speaking on Fox News with Brett Baier, didn’t mince words as the radical left and their Vatican allies continue their latest meltdown over President Trump’s America First agenda.

Bret Baier:
Do you think that when the president says it’s hurting him very badly—going catering to the radical left—that it’s hurting the Catholic Church? Do you agree with the president there?

JD Vance:
Well, look, I think the president has the prerogative to set American foreign policy. He’s got the prerogative to set American immigration policy. He has to look out for the interests of the United States of America. And that inevitably means that when the Vatican comments on issues of public policy, sometimes there’s going to be agreement—of course—and sometimes there’s going to be disagreement.

I think that’s a reasonable thing, Bret. Again, I don’t think that it’s particularly newsworthy, but I certainly think that in some cases it would be best for the Vatican to stick to matters of morality—to stick to matters of, you know, what’s going on in the Catholic Church—and let the president of the United States stick to dictating American public policy.

But when they’re in conflict, they’re in conflict. I don’t worry about it too much, Bret. I think it’s a natural thing. I’m sure it’ll happen in the future, and it’s not that big of a deal that it happened in the past.

WATCH:

Fox News’ Bret Baier: “Do you think that when the president says it’s ‘hurting him very badly,’ ‘catering to the radical left’ is hurting the Catholic Church?’ Do you agree with the president there?”

Vice President JD Vance: “I think in some cases it would be best for the… pic.twitter.com/jhNrWO5fEa

— RedWave Press (@RedWavePress) April 13, 2026

Vance also addressed the media firestorm surrounding Trump’s viral AI-generated image. Vance dismissed the outrage as media-driven hysteria.

WATCH:

JUST NOW — JD VANCE on Trump’s deleted post after religious backlash: “He doesn’t send everything through a communications professional.”

“The president was posting a joke and of course he took it down because he recognized that a lot of people weren’t understanding his humor… pic.twitter.com/oFiRV6ry1d

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) April 13, 2026

The post JD Vance, Who Converted to Catholicism as an Adult FIRES BACK at Pope Leo — Tells Vatican to “Stick to Morality” as He Defends Trump appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Bombshell new details have emerged that could finally send the serial scandal-plagued congressman straight to prison.

As The Gateway Pundit has been reporting for days, Martin Shkreli and Jack Posobiec dropped the bombshell videos exposing Swalwell’s bizarre hotel room antics with an alleged sex worker.

Luna herself has already filed a motion to expel the disgraced congressman from the House.

On Monday, Luna wrote on X that more “disgusting” information about Eric Swalwell is expected to be released within the next 24 hours. She also issued a warning to Swalwell regarding the person who recorded the video.

“I am being told there will be more disgusting stuff coming out on Swallwell in the next 24 hours. For the members of Congress who are concerned about optics on expelling Swalwell, I think after the information drops you will be thinking otherwise. Eric, why dont you tell us a little about who was filming the video of the female sex worker.”

I am being told there will be more disgusting stuff coming out on Swallwell in the next 24 hours. For the members of Congress who are concerned about optics on expelling Swalwell, I think after the information drops you will be thinking otherwise.

Eric, why dont you tell us a…

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 13, 2026

Following this threat, Swalwell resigned from Congress and suspended his gubernatorial bid amid the avalanche of allegations, but the hits just keep on coming.

During an appearance with Fox News host Jesse Watters, Luna claimed that new forensic evidence and witness accounts suggest the now-viral hotel room video allegedly involving Swalwell is not only authentic, but may involve an underage individual behind the camera.

Anna Paulina Luna:
So what I will say is that many people on the Hill knew about this. Many reporters have come forward—even in talking to me—saying that they had heard stories about this. But I do think that he has serious criminal problems on his hands, and I do think that he might end up in jail, Jesse.

And if I could just share with you for a moment—not only did I receive forensic reporting showing that that infamous video of him in the hotel room was indeed him, and that it was not AI-generated—but I’m also being told that: A) more stuff is going to be dropping in the next 24 hours; and B) potentially, the individual who recorded that video in that hotel room, Jesse, was a female—and she was underage.

Jesse Watters:
Oh, just so the audience is aware, there’s a video that’s circulating. Fox hasn’t confirmed it yet. It appears to show Swalwell on a bed, maybe another guy, making out with a girl. That’s it—that’s all we know.

But if what you’re saying is true—and we don’t know—but if that’s true, that is very, very, very bad news.

WATCH:

Based on a forensic report I’ve seen, Eric Swalwell could be facing jail soon. He did the right thing by resigning but his troubles aren’t over yet. pic.twitter.com/1TgwscDG4k

— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) April 14, 2026

The post Rep. Anna Paulina Luna Drops EXPLOSIVE Allegation on Jesse Watters — Claims the Individual Who Filmed Eric Swalwell Kissing Alleged Sex Worker Was UNDERAGE appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Iran’s radical Muslim President Masoud Pezeshkian has rushed to praise and defend Pope Leo XIV after the Chicago-born pontiff launched yet another attack on President Donald Trump for standing up to the bloodthirsty Iranian regime.

As The Gateway Pundit reported, Trump delivered a blistering takedown of Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pontiff, slamming the Vatican leader as weak on crime, disastrous on foreign policy, and far too cozy with the radical left.

Trump also noted that he recently hosted the Pope’s brother, Louis, at the White House, a man who actually understands the MAGA movement.

When asked by the Associated Press about Trump’s post, Pope Leo XIV refused to back down. He stated that he is sharing the message of the Gospel and suggested that Trump had no clue of its meaning.

“I’m sorry to hear that (from Trump)…I do not look at my role as being political or a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him; I don’t think the message of the Gospel is to be used in the way some people are doing,” Pope Leo told reporters.

“And I will continue to speak loudly against war and to promote peace, dialogue, and multilateral relationships among states.

“Too many people are suffering in the world today. Too many innocent people are being killed, and someone has to stand up and say there’s a better way.”

Critics, however, note that the pope has remained silent on atrocities committed by the Islamic regime.

Now, the leader of a terrorist-sponsoring, nuclear-obsessed Islamic theocracy, one that executes women for defying hijab laws, has killed tens of thousands of its own citizens for protesting, bankrolls Hamas, Hezbollah, and other proxies, and routinely chants “Death to America,” is now sending “glory by Allah” to the Pope for bashing Trump’s America First foreign policy.

Pezeshkian took to X on Monday to publicly condemn President Trump’s fiery response to Pope Leo’s meddling:

“His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.”

His Holiness Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex), I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) April 13, 2026

This is the same regime that has driven thousands of Christians out of Iran, persecuting them, imprisoning them, denying them the ability to worship freely, and in some cases subjecting them to torture or death. Now that same regime wants to posture as a defender of Christianity and weigh in on Church matters?

As we’ve reported here at The Gateway Pundit, this isn’t the first time the new Pope has waded into U.S. politics to undermine Trump.

From migration to the Iran conflict, Leo XIV has shown himself to be far more interested in left-wing globalist talking points than in the traditional defense of Western civilization and Christianity.

The post You Can’t Make This Up: Iran’s Radical Muslim President Praises Pope Leo XIV for Attacking Trump — “Glory by Allah” as Radical Islam and the Far-Left Vatican Team Up Against America First appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

The radical Left in Sacramento has finally done it.

In a move straight out of a totalitarian playbook, the California Assembly Judiciary Committee voted 11-2 on Monday to advance AB 2624, the so-called “Stop Nick Shirley Act,” a disgusting Democrat power grab designed to make it illegal for brave citizen journalists like Nick Shirley to expose the rampant fraud bleeding American taxpayers dry in immigrant service centers.

This is nothing less than an all-out assault on the First Amendment by the radical left in the People’s Republic of California.

The bill, authored by far-left Assemblywoman Mia Bonta (wife of Attorney General Rob Bonta), would slap investigative reporters with massive civil sanctions starting at $4,000 minimum if a fraudster from one of these “immigrant service centers” decides they don’t want to be caught on camera committing their scams.

The crook can then run to court for an injunction banning the journalist from filming or exposing them on camera for up to four years.

And if the journalist refuses to take down the original video? Triple the damages, $12,000, just for telling the truth!

In the worst cases, if the journalist is accused of “doxxing” or creating an “imminent threat” by simply reporting the facts, they could face criminal charges and $10,000 fines.

The bill classifies legitimate investigative journalism as “harassment” when it targets these so-called “immigrant service centers” you know, the fake Somali daycares and Los Angeles hospice operations that Nick Shirley has been courageously exposing.

What a disgrace! This is Democrats in action: protecting fraud artists over the American people.

California State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio is among those raising urgent concerns about the legislation, warning that AB 2624 (Bonta) represents a dangerous escalation in government efforts to control investigative reporting.

CA State Assemblymember Carl DeMaio is slamming state Democrats for voting to advance a controversial new law (AB 2624) to silence citizen journalists and shield taxpayer-funded organizations from public scrutiny.

DeMaio has gone as far as dubbing AB 2624 the “Stop Nick Shirley Act” for the chilling effect it will have on free speech.

AB 2624 comes as independent journalists like Nick Shirley have used viral videos to expose fraud and abuse in government-funded programs using on-the-ground footage and firsthand documentation.

AB 2624 claims to be about protecting immigrant organizations from “threats of violence,” when in fact the legislation would apply to any left-wing group that claims to provide any services to legal or illegal immigrants. For example, under AB 2624 entities like the Somali “Learing” Daycare centers would all be covered if they operated inside California.

During a recent Assembly committee hearing, DeMaio directly confronted the bill’s author, Mia Bonta, over language that would allow individuals affiliated with certain organizations to demand the removal of video recordings — even if taken in public — and even impose costly financial penalties against those who publish the videos online.

DeMaio warned the bill would be used to block investigative reporting and intimidate journalists, watchdog groups, and members of the public documenting wrongdoing.

Assemblymember Carl DeMaio’s Full Statement on AB 2624:

“California Democrats are trying to intimidate citizen watchdog journalists and protect waste and fraud happening in far-Left-wing NGOs. AB 2624 can only be described as the ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ — a bill designed to silence citizen journalists exposing fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars.

Instead of fixing the fraud problems being uncovered, Sacramento politicians are trying to shut down the people exposing them.

AB 2624 would allow activists and taxpayer-funded organizations to demand the removal of video evidence — even if it captures misconduct in plain view — and threatens journalists with massive financial penalties.

That’s not about public safety — it’s about protecting powerful interests.

If this bill becomes law, the message is clear to every journalist in California: expose corruption and you will be punished. AB 2624 is an unconstitutional direct attack on transparency and the First Amendment – and it needs to be defeated.”

Nick Shirley blew the lid off over $110 million in Somali daycare fraud in Minnesota back in December 2025, empty facilities billing taxpayers while kids were nowhere to be found.

He faced death threats and doxxing for his work, which we reported on extensively. Then in March 2026, Shirley dropped another bombshell: $170 million in similar fraud in California daycares and hospices, with ghost operations registered to empty lots and strip malls.

The post What are They Hiding? — Radical California Democrats Pass ‘Stop Nick Shirley Act’ to Criminalize Investigative Journalism and Shield Massive Immigrant Services Fraud from Scrutiny appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.