President Donald Trump on Sunday sharply criticised Pope Leo XIV, attacking his stance on the Iran war and calling him “terrible for foreign policy,” marking a deepening rift between the White House and the Vatican. “We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump told reporters, adding, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” He accused the pontiff of opposing firm action against countries pursuing nuclear capabilities, suggesting such views were dangerous in a volatile global context. The remarks came amid escalating tensions over the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, with the pope emerging as one of the most vocal critics of the war and Washington’s rhetoric.
JUST IN: 🇻🇦🇺🇸 Trump criticizes Pope Leo, citing disagreements on crime and nuclear weapons stance. pic.twitter.com/zesPzrqxBe
— BRICS Monitor (@BRICStracker) April 13, 2026
Pope’s criticism of war and use of religion
Pope Leo XIV, the first American to lead the Catholic Church, has increasingly spoken out against the war and against the language used by the Trump administration. He condemned Trump’s earlier warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” ahead of a temporary ceasefire, describing such rhetoric as “truly unacceptable.” The pope has also strongly rejected attempts to justify war through religion. During his Palm Sunday address, he said: “Jesus is the king of peace, who rejects war… He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war but rejects them.” This was widely seen as a direct rebuttal to both Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who have invoked God in public messaging during the conflict. Hegseth, in particular, framed the war effort as divinely supported and used scriptural references to justify military action. Leo has consistently warned that invoking religion to legitimise violence contradicts Christian teachings and risks deepening global conflict.
Trump’s counterattack and political claims
Trump’s criticism of the pope intensified in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, where he wrote: “Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.” He added that he did not want a pope who criticises the President of the United States or opposes American military actions abroad.
He further accused the pope of being lenient on Iran’s nuclear ambitions and criticised his earlier comments on Venezuela. Following a U.S. operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, the pope had called for respect for the will of the Venezuelan people and a return to stability.
Trump attacks the Pope in a Truth Social rant, calling him “weak” and attacking his views on foreign policy, Iran, and even his legitimacy as pontiff—claiming he wouldn’t be Pope if Trump weren’t president. pic.twitter.com/hsBOFeq7pi
— MeidasTouch (@MeidasTouch) April 13, 2026
Trump also questioned the legitimacy of Leo’s election, claiming he “wasn’t on any list” to become pope and suggesting he was chosen because he is American and seen as a counterweight to Trump’s leadership. The pope, however, has consistently advocated for nuclear disarmament, stating that building a safer world requires dialogue, justice, and cooperation rather than threats or escalation. The latest clash follows a report aired on CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” which featured senior American cardinals supporting the pope’s stance on the war and his earlier opposition to the Trump administration’s immigration policies. Shortly after his remarks, Trump posted an image on Truth Social depicting himself in a Christ-like role healing a person, surrounded by American symbols, further intensifying the controversy and highlighting the widening ideological divide between political leadership and religious authority.
