GOP strategist: Why Pope Leo XIV made me feel a profound sense of pride | Opinion

I don’t know about you, but I felt a profound sense of pride and patriotism when Cardinal Robert Prevost made history as the first American-born pope. His selection by his peers was one of those rare moments that remind us the American story isn’t just about economic or military power. It’s about the ideals we stand for and the hope they inspire in people across the globe.

The moment also stands in stark contrast to how most of the world views America today.

Undeniably, our reputation as a global force for good has taken a serious hit.

Our standing among key allies, including those in Europe and Canada, has eroded, and our alliances have fractured, driven by whiplash policy shifts and a growing sense of unreliability. President Donald Trump’s embrace of economic nationalism and his coziness with figures like Russian President Vladimir Putin have only amplified global skepticism, showing U.S. leadership to be impulsive than principled.

That’s why Trump’s new trade deal with the United Kingdom matters. While it’s just the first in a series of agreements on trade, the deal with the U.K. reaffirms our relationship with one of our closest allies and signals a return to stability and cooperation.

And it couldn’t come at a better time.

So far “Trumponomics” has largely consisted of policies that have disrupted supply chains, fueled economic uncertainty and driven up costs for hard-working Americans. In just over 100 days, the promise of a “new golden age of America” has crumbled into “maybe the children will have two dolls.”

That’s why the Federal Reserve — warning that Trump’s tariff policy could cause higher inflation and an economic slowdown — chose not to lower interest rates when it met Wednesday, May 7.

The U.K. deal is an important step in setting America back on a path to prosperity — but real progress requires more than trade agreements. It demands a president who respects the Constitution and acknowledges that he has a duty to uphold it even while carrying out his mass deportations that have been criticized by some, including judges, as executive overreach.

Asked on NBC the other day if he had to uphold the Constitution, Trump replied, “I don’t know” and added, “I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said.”

Fulfilling a campaign promise does not override the Constitution.

Stripping due process from anyone — U.S. citizen or not — is a direct assault on the very foundation of our republic. Due process is a constitutional right that exists to safeguard liberty, and our rights cannot be tossed aside for political convenience.

America depends on principled leaders who understand that holding public office is a sacred trust. The Constitution depends entirely on the character of the leaders sworn to uphold it. Without that, the Constitution becomes hollow words on a worthless piece of paper.

Our nation’s first president, George Washington, set the gold standard for those who followed. His unwavering commitment to the Constitution helped stabilize a fragile young nation and laid the foundation for a country built on principles — governed by laws, not by individuals.

Trump’s then-Vice President Mike Pence showed that same level of commitment when he stood firm in the face of immense pressure during the certification of the 2020 election. By upholding his constitutional duty, he honored the oath he had taken.

In doing so, he reminded Americans what true leadership looks like: principled, steady, and grounded in the rule of law. For that act of courage and fidelity, he was honored with the JFK Profiles in Courage award, which he received Sunday, May 4.

That same spirit of duty and principle must guide us all.

If America is to remain a shining city upon a hill, we must return to what truly made us exceptional: principled leadership and an unwavering commitment to liberty.

Most people around the world will never experience the kind of freedom we so often take for granted in America. Maybe, just maybe, that’s part of the reason why there was such joy on the faces in the crowd when Pope Leo XIV stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

In that moment, people weren’t just celebrating a new pope. They were celebrating a symbol of what the United States of America still represents at its best: a nation built on faith, rooted in opportunity, and guided by moral leadership.

This story was originally published May 9, 2025 at 11:15 AM.