Donald Trump called Pope Francis “a very political person” Thursday, criticizing his planned visit to the U.S.-Mexico border.
“I think that he doesn’t understand the problems our country has. I don’t think he understands the danger of the open border that we have with Mexico,” Trump said of Francis on Fox News’ “Varney & Company.”
Trump laid into the motivations of highly Catholic Mexico. The pope will arrive in the country on Friday for a week-long visit.
“Mexico got him to do it because Mexico wants to keep the border just the way it is because they’re making a fortune and we’re losing,” Trump continued.
“I think that the pope is a very political person,” Trump said.
Trump is not Catholic, unlike rivals Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. He identifies as Presbyterian.
