Here’s what President Trump said about vandalism at a north Wichita Catholic church
President Donald Trump said he’s going to take a look into the vandalism at a north Wichita Catholic church.
Trump was told about the vandalism at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Wichita and asked by correspondent Owen Jensen of Eternal Word Television Network what the White House can do to protect churches and places of worship.
Trump responded: “Well, we’re going to take a look. I love Wichita. You know, I got big votes there. We won that state by a lot.”
Police were called Saturday, March 15 to the church at 2007 North Arkansas for a report of a burglary. Officers found hate speech written on a wall, damage to statues, candles and glass and a burned U.S. flag.
“I think it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said about the vandalism. He made his remarks during a press availability at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Monday.
Michael Angel Gonzalez, 23, of Saline County, was arrested Sunday morning and charged Tuesday with burglary, criminal desecration, theft of property or services and criminal damage to property in connection with the vandalism, a filed court complaint shows.
The complaint says roughly $25,000 worth of damage was done to the church.
Kansas Department of Corrections records show Gonzalez was previously convicted in April and October 2023 on charges of criminal threat, criminal damage to property and burglary. He was released from prison on March 7.
The FBI and ATF were involved since the vandalism included arson.
U.S. Rep. Ron Estes also spoke out about the incident.
“This is despicable,” Estes said on Facebook. “Violence and Vandalism, especially in a sacred space, have no place here in Kansas.”
Parishioners were unable to worship that day. The mass on Sunday, March 16 was held in the church’s school gym.
A person affiliated with the church said the vandalism has been cleaned up and mass will be held in the church again starting Tuesday.
“Thanks be to God, we had a crew yesterday and they did a really good job cleaning up,” said the person, who did not want to be named. “We should be resuming, you know, as normal as we can tomorrow [Tuesday] morning.”
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 6:43 PM.