Jack Schlossberg Slammed for “JD Killed the Pope” Tweet After Pontiff’s Death
Jack Schlossberg, grandson of President John F. Kennedy, is facing intense backlash after posting a bizarre and insensitive message following the death of Pope Francis.
On Monday morning, as the world reacted to the passing of the beloved pontiff at age 88, Schlossberg took to X (formerly Twitter) with a now-viral post that read:
“Okay JD killed the pope.”
The tweet — referencing Vice President JD Vance — instantly stirred outrage, with many calling it tasteless and tone-deaf. Critics blasted Schlossberg for joking about a death so significant, especially one so closely tied to his family’s Catholic legacy.
Backlash Comes Swift and Strong
The post quickly garnered over 470,000 views and a tidal wave of angry replies. Many called it “shameful,” “disrespectful,” and “not remotely funny.”
“Your words are shameful,” one user replied.
“Are you kidding with this? Total disrespect,” wrote another.
A third simply said, “No, Johnny. Maybe it’s time to log off.”
Some users even reminded Schlossberg that his grandfather, President JFK, was America’s first (and only) Catholic president, and that mocking the Pope’s death wasn’t just insensitive — it was personal.
Who Is Jack Schlossberg?
Schlossberg, 31, is the only grandson of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy. The son of Caroline Kennedy, he’s often praised for his charisma and good looks, frequently drawing comparisons to JFK.
He studied at Yale, earned both his J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard, and has interned in the U.S. Senate. Online, he’s known for mixing political commentary with comedic posts and impressions — but critics say this time, he missed the mark by a mile.
Why JD Vance?
Schlossberg’s tweet wasn’t totally out of the blue — Vice President JD Vance had just met Pope Francis one day before his death. Vance, a Catholic convert, visited the Vatican over Easter weekend and shared a brief, heartfelt exchange with the pontiff.
In a short video, Vance can be seen telling the frail Pope, “I pray for you every day.” Francis responded with a quiet smile and gifted Easter eggs for Vance’s children. The meeting lasted just 17 minutes.
After the Pope’s passing, Vance posted a respectful message:
“I just learned of the passing of Pope Francis. My heart goes out to the millions of Christians all over the world who loved him.”
How Did Pope Francis Die?
According to Vatican officials, Pope Francis died of a massive stroke early Monday morning. Though he’d suffered respiratory issues in recent months, the stroke came suddenly.
Doctors said he became unwell shortly after waking up and slipped into a coma by 7:30 a.m. He passed peacefully at 7:35 a.m., not in a hospital, but at his Vatican residence.
“He returned to the house of the Father,” Cardinal Kevin Farrell said, praising Francis as a “true disciple” who lived for “the poorest and most marginalized.”
Known for rejecting luxury and riding the bus instead of limousines, Pope Francis made waves during his papacy — from confronting the mafia to washing the feet of refugees and calling for action on climate change.
Final Thoughts
Whether Schlossberg meant the tweet as satire or sarcasm, many found it wildly inappropriate — especially coming from someone with deep roots in the Catholic tradition. As one commenter put it:
“This isn’t edgy or clever. It’s just wrong.”
