U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who is running for re-election with the endorsement of President Donald Trump, criticized the Head of the Catholic Church Pope Leo XIV for urging the United States to not attempt a military ouster of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
On Tuesday on the papal plane, the first American pope addressed reports about the U.S. considering an invasion of Venezuela and said: “I truly believe that it is better to look for ways of dialogue, maybe pressure, including economic pressure, but looking another way to change, if that is what they want to do in the United States.”
Graham, a Baptist, responded on social media: “Without a credible threat of the use of military force, nothing changes in Venezuela. When it comes to Maduro, the time for talking is closing. The time for action to end this reign of terror in Venezuela is upon us. I would urge the Holy Father to be on the right side of history when it comes to ending Maduro’s reign of terror on the Venezuelan people, the United States and others throughout the region.”
Without a credible threat of the use of military force, nothing changes in Venezuela. When it comes to Maduro, the time for talking is closing. The time for action to end this reign of terror in Venezuela is upon us.
I would urge the Holy Father to be on the right side of…
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 2, 2025
Graham echoed the language of Trump when he accused Maduro of being “the illegitimate leader of a narcoterrorist state,” who has “stolen elections” and “sits atop a notorious drug cartel.”
[Note: Many Senators (Republicans and Democrats) have noted the purported hypocrisy of Trump — while pledging to punish narcoterrorism — pardoning the former President of Honduras Juan Orlando Hernández, who was convicted in a U.S. federal court by a grand jury of flooding the United States with cocaine and sentenced to 45 years in prison.]
Graham added: “As President Trump said, when it comes to Maduro, we can do it the easy way or the hard way. I would urge the Holy Father to spend his time and energy persuading Maduro to take the easy way out — for all.”
X users are slamming Graham for the post by leaving comments including “the absurdity of famous warmonger Lindsey Graham lecturing the pope about being on ‘the right side of history’” and “let’s face it, Lindsey Graham has never seen a war he did not like. He has never seen a military conflict that did not get him all excited. Lindsey Graham is the epitome of the Military Industrial Complex, he is it’s Godfather.”
Another commenter, taking the Pope’s side in the Graham spat, wrote: “the Pope is a better guide to ethics and the teachings of Christ than you or any other worldly politician”