In a rare interview, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens, the head of the Church of Greece, praised U.S. President Donald Trump, describing his presidency as a “positive development” and a potential “force for good in the world.”
The comments came in an exclusive sit-down with the far-right media outlet Breitbart News, known for its controversial headlines and close alignment with Trump-era politics.
The interview, which took place in the archbishop’s office in Athens, covered topics ranging from geopolitics and cultural values to the role of faith among young people in Greece. Ieronymos II, spiritual leader of more than 15 million Orthodox Christians globally, expressed support for Trump’s worldview while also issuing caution about the risks of international instability.
“The election of President Trump was a positive development,” the archbishop said. “I would like to tell him that we need change, such as the reforms he is trying to implement, but reforms that we can and should understand… Rising prices are burdening families, and life is becoming harder. My message here is that we must focus our attention on the younger generations.”
The remarks come during Holy Week—a sacred time in the Orthodox calendar—and at a moment when Catholic and Orthodox Easter celebrations coincide, a rare occurrence.
Despite his approval, the archbishop warned against political overreach and escalating tensions, particularly with China. “Europe is preparing for such a negative scenario,” he said, highlighting the economic and geopolitical fragility facing the continent.
Ieronymos II also commented on what Breitbart called “transgender craziness” in the U.S., voicing alignment with Trump’s stance.
“In Greece, same-sex marriage hasn’t been accepted by a large portion of society,” Ieronymos II said. “We believe in human freedom, but that doesn’t mean extreme actions and demonstrations or activism that largely provokes people… Then Trump’s victory came and the President made it clear that there are only two genders and we noticed that many global leaders and EU leaders started to repeat the same argument.”
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Greece, with great pushback from the right and far-right in February 2024. While the law was hailed as a major step forward by groups like Amnesty International, critics—including the Greek Orthodox Church and former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras—have strongly opposed it.
Breitbart News has been widely criticized for its incendiary rhetoric and accused by academics and watchdog groups of promoting misogynistic, xenophobic, and racist content. The site, founded in 2007 by Andrew Breitbart, has published headlines like “Would You Rather Your Child Had Feminism or Cancer?” and was once chaired by Steve Bannon, Trump’s former strategist who has since been active in far-right political organizing in Europe.
The archbishop also highlighted a resurgence of interest in religion among Greek youth, something he said mirrors trends seen in the U.S.
“It’s true that we ourselves are wondering whether this phenomenon we’re seeing is a real increase or just a passing trend,” he said. “Greeks have gone through difficult times recently, and many turned to different kinds of searching… The real issue is whether we’re ready to respond.”
He stated that spiritual leaders must do more to understand and connect with younger generations. “Today’s youth are searching. They want a new kind of world… But there are two main questions: what exactly are the youth searching for?… That’s where my role comes in, how can I connect with these young people if I myself don’t understand everything they’re going through?”
“The Church is a force that always can offer support and strength to the people,” said the Archbishop. “I’ve always admired our ancestors who used to say that if we want to move fast, we must move forward slowly and steadily.”
