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Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., joined NCS’s “The Situation Room” Tuesday to defend President Donald Trump’s controversy surrounding Pope Leo XIV, whereas arguing that the papacy should stay strictly non secular.
In a pointy trade with NCS anchors Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown, Stefanik addressed the Trump’s latest criticisms of Pope Leo, the primary American-born pontiff. Trump has lately focused the Chicago-born Pope, calling him “weak” on international coverage relating to the warfare in Iran.
“I don’t want to see the Pope as a politician,” Stefanik mentioned. “The President of the United States is a political figure. Of course, he’s going to be engaged in politics when he’s politically attacked.”
Stefanik argued that non secular authority should be distinct from the political fray, pointing to a non secular resurgence reasonably than coverage debates.
PELOSI DISTANCES HERSELF FROM ALLY SWALWELL AMID SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS
U.S. Ambassador Designate to the United Nations Elise Stefanik throughout a Cabinet assembly on the White House on Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
“I want to see the Pope continue to focus on the Gospel,” she mentioned. “What I think we can highlight as Catholics… is the increased number of new Catholics entering the church, and that’s a great success for the Catholic Church long-term.”
When requested about Trump’s now-deleted AI-generated pictures that appeared to depict him as a Christ-like determine, Stefanik acknowledged the controversy whereas shifting focus to coverage outcomes. Trump, nonetheless, defended the picture, saying he considered it as “a picture of me being a doctor in fixing — you had the Red Cross right there, you had, you know, medical people surrounding me.”
When requested concerning the now-deleted AI-generated picture shared by President Trump that critics mentioned depicted him as a Jesus-like determine, Stefanik acknowledged the controversy. Trump defended the publish earlier this week, claiming the robes and surrounding figures represented him as a “doctor” in a Red Cross setting.
“Certainly the president made the correct decision in taking it down,” Stefanik mentioned. “I know NCS loves to focus on the tweets and memes of President Trump. I look at his record of results.”
FROM IRAN TO THE FAKE JESUS IMAGE, TRUMP IS FACING A GROWING BACKLASH FOR HIS INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC
A break up picture reveals Pope Leo XIV, left, and Vice President JD Vance, proper, amid tensions between the Vatican and the Trump administration. (Simone Risoluti – Vatican Media by way of Vatican Pool/Getty Images ;Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The dialogue later turned to allegations involving Rep. Eric Swalwell, the place Stefanik sharply criticized each the congressman and media protection of the claims.
The dialogue grew most contentious relating to the sudden resignations of Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, who each stepped down on Tuesday amid mounting sexual misconduct allegations.
“Frankly, I believe criminal crimes were committed,” Stefanik mentioned, including it’s “deeply disturbing.”
“The media should have done more coverage of this,” she continued. “This was sort of whispered about for many, many years.”
Lonna Drewes, alongside legal professional Lisa Bloom, spoke throughout a information briefing on April 14, 2026, in Beverly Hills, California, the place Drewes alleged that former Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., drugged and sexually assaulted her throughout a 2018 encounter after providing skilled mentorship. Swalwell has denied the allegations. (Myun J. Chun / Los Angeles Times by way of Getty Images)
Brown challenged Stefanik on why GOP management did not act sooner, given the rumors.
“I think, correctly, he was forced to resign,” Stefanik countered. “But that was only after the public came forward and these brave women and, frankly, staff members came forward. I think that every member, if there are these types of scandalous behaviors, they need to resign immediately, no matter what party they’re in.”
Stefanik additionally addressed the scrutiny dealing with Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., who has confronted separate allegations of misconduct.
“My advice as a member of Congress is these members need to look in the mirror,” Stefanik mentioned. “They know if they have been conducting themselves unfitting for the office, they need to resign.”
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House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., speaks throughout a information convention within the U.S. Capitol to acknowledge legislation enforcement as half of Police Week on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc by way of Getty Images))
Blitzer pressed Stefanik on whether or not she was making use of a double commonplace, citing the 2023 civil jury discovering that Donald Trump was chargeable for the sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll.
“There’s absolutely not a double standard,” Stefanik replied. “If anything, the media is not focused on holding Democrats to account.”
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She concluded by distinguishing between the “lawfare” she claims has been used in opposition to Trump and the proof within the Swalwell case.
“Look at the text. Look at the videos of Eric Swalwell… That is very different than the lawfare and the politicization that we have seen,” she mentioned.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the workplaces of Tony Gonzales and Cory Mills for additional remark. Rep. Swalwell’s workplace referred all inquiries to his resignation assertion issued Tuesday.