Donald Trump's recent attacks on Pope Leo regarding the U.S. stance on Iran and his controversial social media post depicting himself as Jesus Christ can be better understood through his early experiences at the Marble Collegiate Church in Manhattan. This church, led by the anti-Catholic pastor Norman Vincent Peale, was influential during Trump's formative years. Peale, known for his book *The Power of Positive Thinking*, was a vocal opponent of John F. Kennedy's presidential candidacy in 1960, arguing that a Catholic president would threaten the separation of church and state. Peale's group, which included 150 Protestant leaders, expressed fears that a Catholic president would lead to increased religious tensions, a sentiment echoed in the past by groups like the Ku Klux Klan. Trump's family history, including his father's arrest during a Klan riot, further illustrates the deep-rooted anti-Catholic sentiments that may have influenced Trump's perspectives on religion and politics today.