Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.), who is typically one of President Donald Trump’s key allies in Congress, wants him to lay off the pope.

“I love the president like a taco. Don’t always agree with him, but I think he wants a better world,” Kennedy said on Fox News on Saturday. “But I don’t agree with him about this new holy war with the pope.”

Trump has been lashing out at Pope Leo XIV, who has criticized the war in Iran. Leo also slammed Trump’s threat to wipe out Iran’s “whole civilization” as “truly unacceptable.”

Leo has vowed to continue to “speak out loudly” against war despite Trump’s attacks.

Kennedy said he’s not a Catholic but has “great respect” for the religion.

“And even if I didn’t, the pope is entitled to his opinion,” he said. “Why do we want to have a fight with the pope? It’s a distraction, and the press just sucks it up like a Hoover Deluxe.”

He said Trump is facing “too many distractions” and should focus on tackling inflation and the cost of living instead of battling the pope.

See more of his interview below:

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