In Trump information in the present day, President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV as “WEAK on Crime, and horrible for Overseas Coverage” in a social media submit that escalated a days-long public feud with the primary American pope, who has repeatedly condemned the US-Israel battle on Iran and referred to as Trump’s pre-strike menace to wipe out Iranian civilization “actually unacceptable.”
Abstract
- Trump additionally claimed Pope Leo helps Iran having nuclear weapons, a declare the pope didn’t make, and stated he didn’t need “a Pope who criticizes the President of the US,” including that Leo had not been on anybody’s listing to grow to be pope earlier than the conclave.
- Pope Leo fired again from aboard a airplane to Algeria: “I’ve no concern of the Trump administration or talking out loudly concerning the message of the Gospel,” and vowed to proceed calling for peace no matter White Home strain.
- The confrontation has drawn rebukes from European leaders together with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, who stated it’s “proper and regular” for the pope to name for peace and condemned Trump’s remarks as unacceptable.
Trump information in the present day facilities on essentially the most pronounced public rupture between a US president and a sitting pope in fashionable historical past, one which started with Leo’s Palm Sunday name for peace throughout the Iran battle and escalated by means of the week into direct private assaults exchanged through social media submit and press convention.
Leo, born in Chicago and elected in April 2025, has been more and more direct for the reason that US and Israel launched the Iran marketing campaign. He condemned Trump’s pre-strike rhetoric as assaults in opposition to civilian populations that violate worldwide legislation, urged Individuals to contact their congressional representatives, and on Palm Sunday stated: “Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects battle, whom nobody can use to justify battle.” Trump and Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth have each invoked God to border the battle in non secular phrases, which Leo has particularly and repeatedly rejected.
Trump’s escalation started with the Fact Social submit calling Leo “WEAK on Crime, and horrible for Overseas Coverage.” He instructed reporters he doesn’t assume Leo is doing “an excellent job” and stated “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” He additionally posted an AI-generated picture depicting himself in a Christ-like pose with gentle emanating from his fingers, which drew criticism from evangelical allies and was later deleted. Trump stated he thought the picture depicted him as a physician.
On Tuesday evening, Trump posted once more: “Will somebody please inform Pope Leo that Iran has killed not less than 42,000 harmless, fully unarmed, protesters within the final two months.” He claimed Leo was in favor of Iran having nuclear weapons, a place Leo had not acknowledged. He stated he didn’t desire a pope who would “say crime is OK in our cities.”
Leo responded on his airplane to Algeria, the primary cease of an 11-day Africa tour: “I’ve no concern of the Trump administration or talking out loudly concerning the message of the Gospel, which is what I consider I’m right here to do, what the church is right here to do.”
Why the Confrontation Has Escalated
Rome-based Catholic correspondent Elise Ann Allen stated Trump gave the impression to be “feeling threatened that Leo was rising as a stronger determine on the worldwide scene,” including that Trump must be cautious as a result of “it’s the average Catholics who bought him elected in each elections.”
The feud intersects with the Iran ceasefire expiry on April 22, which crypto markets are watching carefully as a binary danger occasion. A ceasefire extension would seemingly preserve present risk-on circumstances; a breakdown would reintroduce the geopolitical volatility that drove Bitcoin’s preliminary selloff from its October 2025 highs.
What It Means for the Political Setting
Pope Leo has grow to be a major voice within the worldwide coalition of actors urging the US to hunt a diplomatic decision. His Africa tour framing of the battle as a part of a sample of highly effective leaders “ravaging the world” provides ethical authority strain to the administration on the identical second it’s managing the Iran nuclear talks, the crypto reform legislative agenda, and the midterm electoral setting, the place Catholic voters in swing districts stay a decisive constituency.
