Trump, Vance meet with Pope Leo's Florida brother, 'a major MAGA fan', at White House
Trump told reporters he likes the pope and both of his brothers, but spotlighted the eldest brother, Navy veteran and Port Charlotte resident Louis Prevost.
"I like the new pope and I like the pope's brother. You know, one of the pope's brothers – actually both of them – but one in particular is a major MAGA fan. Did you know that? He lives in Florida," Trump said.
"And I look forward to getting him to the White House. I want to shake his hand, I want to give him a big hug."
Later that day, the White House visit happened. Louis Prevost and his wife Deborah met with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office.
"Great meeting between President Trump, Vice President Vance, and @Pontifex's brother, Louis Prevost and his wife Deborah," Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor Margo Martin posted on X, along with a photo of the meeting.
The Prevost brothers — Louis, John and Robert (Pope Leo XIV) — grew up in Chicago in a traditional Catholic family.
Louis Prevost said his youngest brother Robert wanted to "play priest" when he was 6 and set his sights on the priesthood as a freshman in high school. Their parents, neighbors and even strangers told Robert, "You're going to be pope someday," he said.
Robert Prevost's election as Pope Leo XIV left Louis Prevost excited, happy, mind blown and a little worried about how the papacy would impact their relationship.
'I just freaked out and said 'It's Rob, OMG.' I was up, dressed, out, just going nuts,' he told WBBH.
'We can only hope that we can maintain that closeness, and we don't do anything to embarrass him,' he said.
Louis Prevost attended Pope Leo's inaugural mass at the Vatican on May 18. The brothers shared a hug after the service.
Trump told reporters Louis Prevost is a "major MAGA fan."
In an interview with Piers Morgan, Louis Prevost said, "I don't want to create waves that don't need to be there because I'm a MAGA type and I have my beliefs,' he said. 'I don't need to create heat for him. He's going to have enough to handle as it is without the press going 'the pope's brother says this.' He doesn't need that.'
Asked about his reposts of controversial social media memes, including one calling Nancy Pelosi a drunk (expletive), and how they might affect the pope, Louis Prevost said he will "tone it down."
"He knows I am who I am," he said of the pope. "He's well aware of my position. He knows I'm probably not going to change and I don't think I will, other than to, just like you say, tone it down."
Contributing: Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, Herald-Tribune, Ashley Ferrer, USA TODAY Network-Florida
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Trump meets Pope Leo's Florida brother Louis Prevost at White House
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