Trending Now - Mayor Johnson Defends Meeting With Pope Amid Trump's Criticism

WHO:

CBS News - Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago

CBS News - President Trump

CBS News - Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope

The Daily Beast - 46-member delegation led by Brandon Johnson

WHAT:

CBS News - Johnson met with Pope Leo in Rome.

CBS News - Trump criticized Johnson and the pope on Truth Social, stating, "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!"

CBS News - Johnson gifted the pope giardiniera, honorary degrees from DePaul and Loyola universities, and Cubs memorabilia.

The Daily Beast - Johnson gifted the pope a box of Chicago goodies, including hats from the Cubs and White Sox, a key to the city, local honey, a hat reading “Immigrants Make America Greater,” and a sanctuary city pin.

The Daily Beast - Johnson included letters from families of detained migrants and a pin from an “ICE Watch” group in his gifts to the pope.

WHERE:

CBS News - The meeting took place in Rome, at the Vatican.

The Daily Beast - The gifts were representative of Chicago.

WHEN:

CBS News - The meeting occurred earlier in the week from the article's perspective.

The Daily Beast - Johnson met with the pope at the Vatican on Thursday.

WHY:

CBS News - Johnson stated that Chicagoans have had enough of Trump's "blasphemous war in Iran."

The Daily Beast - Johnson and Trump have been feuding over Johnson's lack of cooperation with ICE operations in Chicago.

HOW:

CBS News - Johnson led a delegation to meet the pope and discussed social justice and the pope's apologies regarding slavery.

The Daily Beast - Trump monitored social media for political rivals and posted photos of Johnson's trip.

(UPDATED May 31, 2026 17:18 UTC)

In a significant meeting at the Vatican, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson met with Pope Leo XIV, the first American-born pope, earlier this week. During the visit, Johnson presented the pope with a box of Chicago-themed gifts, including Cubs and White Sox hats, a key to the city, and letters from families of detained migrants, while President Trump criticized both Johnson and the pope on social media, calling Johnson "useless." The meeting focused on social justice issues, with Johnson expressing that Chicagoans have had enough of Trump's "blasphemous war in Iran."