US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV, calling him “terrible on foreign policy” and “weak on crime” following the pontiff’s remarks on global conflicts such as Iran and Venezuela.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump urged the pope to “focus on being a great pope, not a politician,” accusing him of harming the Catholic Church. He also said he did not want “a pope who thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon” or one who criticizes US actions abroad.
The remarks come after Pope Leo XIV condemned the escalation of conflicts—particularly the war involving Iran—and called for restraint, dialogue, and peace.
Trump went further by suggesting that the pope’s election was influenced by his American nationality and even compared him unfavorably to his brother, praising the latter’s alignment with his “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement.
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The exchange highlights growing tensions between the White House and the Vatican, as the pope has increasingly spoken out on issues such as war, migration, and global inequality—positions that have clashed with Trump’s policies.
This unusually direct confrontation between a U.S. president and a sitting pope has drawn attention worldwide, underscoring deep ideological divides over foreign policy and global leadership.
