Donald Trump strongly criticized Pope Leo XIV after the pope opposed the Iran war, calling him "weak and poor in foreign policy," sparking conflict between the White House and the Vatican.,
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a harsh critique of Pope Leo XIV last Sunday, attacking the pontiff’s position on the Iran war and describing him as "weak on crime and very poor in foreign policy."
This criticism came after Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, took a clearer stance on the conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran, having previously condemned Trump’s harsh rhetoric and approach as unacceptable.
Trump spoke to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after posting a lengthy message on the platform Truth Social, stating, "Pope Leo is weak on crime and very poor in foreign policy."
He added that he does not want a religious leader who believes Iran can possess nuclear weapons or thinks the U.S. was wrong to attack Venezuela. Trump also said he does not want a pope who criticizes the U.S. president and questioned the pope’s election, suggesting he was chosen because he is American—possibly a church strategy to deal with him.
This development reflects rising tensions between the U.S. government and the Vatican amid clear disagreements over how to handle the Iran war, with the Vatican emphasizing negotiation and peace, while the U.S. maintains a hardline policy.
:CNN
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