Trump officials split over Pope Leo’s AI warning as Vatican feud enters new front

Pope Leo XIV released an encyclical (a formal church letter) warning that artificial intelligence could displace workers, increase inequality, and remove humans from lethal weapons decisions, but Trump administration officials disagreed on how to respond. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum dismissed the pope's concerns as outside his role, while Vice President JD Vance praised the message as important moral leadership, highlighting a split in the administration over whether AI should face stronger oversight or remain deregulated for competitive advantage.