Economist/YouGov Poll: Pope Leo XIV Holds +32 Net Favorability, Trump at -22

A new Economist/YouGov poll released Monday showed Pope Leo XIV holding a 54-percentage-point advantage over President Trump in net favorability. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they viewed the pope favorably while 37 percent said the same of the president. Twenty-three percent viewed the pope unfavorably and 59 percent viewed President Trump unfavorably.

Pope Leo XIV recorded a net favorability rating of +32. The survey found both men received higher favorability scores from male respondents than from female respondents.

Twenty percent of women said they viewed Pope Leo XIV unfavorably, compared with 27 percent of men. 2 percent among registered voters.

The survey collected responses from 1,604 adults between May 29 and June 1. Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, was elected in May 2025. He has promoted international peace efforts since taking office.

In April, President Trump criticized the pope for remarks the president said were aimed at ending the Iran war and alleged that Pope Leo XIV wanted Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon. On Saturday, President Trump again criticized the pope for meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Vatican.

President Trump wrote on Truth Social that Leo “should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise.

He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. ” The pope later said his comments were not directed at President Trump and clarified that he was pushing for peace.