Commentators blame CBS ’60 Minutes’ for provoking conflict between Trump and the Vatican

Some conservative commentators have taken issue with a segment from CBS’s “60 Minutes,” which showcased three cardinals criticizing the immigration and Iran policies of the Trump administration. Father Gerald Murray and author Robert Royal discussed the situation on a prayer group show, questioning whether the segment was designed to incite conflict between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV.

Royal pointed out that while these three cardinals may seem significant, they have never been elected to represent the U.S. Bishops’ Conference, comparing them to “The Squad” in American politics—a small, specifically left-leaning group.

The episode featured the cardinals criticizing various priorities of the Trump administration, like immigration enforcement and the conflict in Iran. Cardinal Tobin even claimed that agents were trying to “terrify people.” Additionally, Cardinal McElroy stated that the war in Iran was “not a just war” according to his beliefs.

Father Murray challenged this perspective, citing reports suggesting that Iran might be close to acquiring enough enriched material for a nuclear weapon. He argued that the situation is real and dangerous, saying, “I think this is a just war because the Iranian nuclear threat has proven to be dangerous to us.” He emphasized that the threat isn’t just a possibility; it’s a legitimate concern.

Arroyo speculated that the media might have orchestrated this tension to provoke a response from the White House, referring to it as an attempt to create “Pope doping.” He argued that they aimed to make Trump overreact, which he did. Following the segment, both Trump and the Pope publicly exchanged criticisms. Trump tweeted that “Pope Leo is weak on crime,” and expressed his disapproval of the Pope’s stance regarding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Recently, Trump intensified the situation, urging the public to inform the Pope about Iran’s actions against protesters. Pope Leo responded to reporters, asserting he doesn’t see himself as a political figure and reiterated the importance of delivering the message of peace.