Pope Leo XIV called for national unity, peace, and respect for human dignity on Friday at a high-profile America’s 250th anniversary event, months after a public clash with President Donald Trump over war and diplomacy. The American-born pope accepted the National Constitution Center’s 2026 Liberty Medal via livestream, marking the milestone anniversary. He urged a “solemn recommitment” to ideals that made America “a country that values peace and prosperity.”

Leo said he joined attendees “in asking God’s blessings upon America’s future, that the lofty ideals enshrined at the beginning of the Declaration of Independence may continue to guide the flourishing of the nation in unity, justice, and peace.” He added that realizing those ideals “was not always easy and in many respects is still a work in progress.”

Liberty Medal Speech

The Liberty Medal is awarded annually to individuals who “strive to secure the blessings of liberty for people around the globe,” according to the National Constitution Center. The center recognized Pope Leo XIV for his efforts to promote these values globally.

Pope and Trump Friction

The appearance follows friction between Leo and Trump over the U.S. military operation against Iran earlier this year, after which Trump called the pope “weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.” In April, Leo told reporters the dispute had been overstated, saying debating Trump “is not my interest at all.”

Former Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence Sriram Krishnan stated that the White House will not establish a centralized AI licensing body similar to the Food and Drug Administration. Krishnan emphasized that the administration opposes burdensome, bureaucratic red tape and is not interested in picking winners and losers in the technology sector. He asserted that creating a centralized agency to license AI models would put "sand in the gears" of the industry, requiring legal intervention before model releases. "That is never, never going to happen under President Trump," Krishnan told the Financial Times.

Industry Backlash and Messaging

Krishnan attributed the growing backlash against artificial intelligence to the industry's own messaging rather than government policy. He noted that AI labs have done a "terrible job" explaining the benefits of the technology, arguing that their focus on dystopian narratives, including job losses and existential risks, has created public wariness. This sentiment follows local opposition to at least 75 U.S. data center projects worth approximately $130 billion in the first three months of 2026. Billionaire investor Mark Cuban echoed this view, suggesting that resistance to data centers serves as a proxy for broader concerns regarding wealth concentration associated with AI.

Regulatory Approach and Oversight

Instead of formal regulation, Krishnan pointed to a recent executive order establishing a voluntary framework that grants the government 30 days to review a model prior to release. For the long term, he advocates for shifting oversight to an industry-run "clearinghouse" that collaborates with intelligence and defense officials. He warned that delaying AI tools for weeks would likely harm American innovation and argued that excessive regulation could allow Chinese companies to overtake U.S. AI labs.

Export Controls and Leadership

Krishnan also addressed the use of export controls to pause Anthropic's Mythos model after Amazon flagged a security flaw. He supported the decision, taken "very, very reluctantly," and denied it targeted Anthropic due to its dispute with the Pentagon. These comments align with previous assertions that the United States must maintain leadership in cryptocurrency and artificial intelligence to secure economic and national security interests. Krishnan's departure from the White House follows the exit of AI czar David Sacks from his formal role, signaling a shift in Silicon Valley's direct presence within the administration.