Trump Slams Pope Leo XIV as 'Weak' and 'Liberal' Amid Escalating Tensions Over Iran War

Donald Trump launched a sweeping public attack on Pope Leo XIV on April 12-13, 2026, calling the pontiff "weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy" in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform and in remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, marking an unprecedented clash between a sitting United States president and a reigning pope.

Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost on September 14, 1955, is the first pope born in the United States and the first to hold either U.S. or Peruvian citizenship. He is also the first pope from the Order of Saint Augustine to lead the Catholic Church. Leo XIV was elected in 2025, succeeding Pope Francis, who died on April 21, 2025. The ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran began on February 28, 2026, and has drawn sustained criticism from the Vatican. Two U.S. aviators were rescued after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran on April 3, 2026.

Trump told reporters he was "not a big fan of Pope Leo," describing the pontiff as "a very liberal person" and "a man who does not believe in fighting crime." He accused Leo XIV of "playing with a country that wants a nuclear weapon," a reference to Iran. The president then escalated his criticism on Truth Social, writing that he does not want "a Pope who thinks it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." Trump also accused the pope of having opposed the American military operation in Venezuela and of meeting with figures he described as Obama sympathizers, singling out Democratic strategist David Axelrod, whom Trump called "a left-wing LOSER." The Vatican did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump claims he put Leo in the Vatican The most striking claim in Trump's Truth Social post was his assertion that Pope Leo XIV owed his election entirely to Trump's presence in the White House. „Leo should be grateful to me because, as everyone knows, his appointment was a staggering surprise. He did not appear on any list of papabili and was chosen by the Church exclusively because he is American; it was believed, in fact, that this was the best way to manage the relationship with President Donald J. Trump. If I were not in the White House, Leo would not be in the Vatican.” — Donald Trump via ANSA Trump also stated a preference for the pope's brother, identified in multiple reports as Louis, describing him as "totally MAGA" and writing that Louis "understands everything." Trump concluded his post by urging the pope to "pull himself together," "stop catering to the radical left," and "focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician," warning that the pontiff's current behavior was causing "very serious harm" to both Leo personally and to the Catholic Church.

Pope had called the Iran conflict "atrocious" days before The attack followed a series of public statements by Pope Leo XIV that placed him in direct opposition to Trump administration policy. In a Palm Sunday speech at St. Peter's Square, the pope stated that God rejects the prayers of leaders who start wars and have "hands dirty with blood," and described the conflict in Iran as "atrocious." Leo XIV had also called Trump's reported threat to destroy Iranian civilization "absolutely unacceptable" and invited the president to find a path toward ending the conflict and reducing violence. Beyond the war in Iran, the pope had previously challenged Trump's immigration policies, questioning whether strict migration enforcement was consistent with pro-life teaching. „He who says he is against abortion but at the same time approves of the inhumane treatment of immigrants in the United States, I do not know if he can truly call himself pro-life.” — Pope Leo XIV via La Stampa The pope had also called for "profound reflection" on the treatment of migrants in the United States.

Trump posts AI image of himself as a messianic figure Alongside his written attack, Trump shared on Truth Social an AI-generated image depicting himself in the role of a messianic figure. In the photomontage, Trump wears a white and red robe and lays hands on a sick person, surrounded by a luminous aura, while a soldier, a nurse, a praying woman, and a man in a baseball cap look on. The American flag and the Statue of Liberty appear in the background, with warplanes crossing a sky lit by heavenly light. The image drew reactions internationally, according to reporting by Il Messaggero. Trump's remarks at Joint Base Andrews came after his return from Florida and included a separate comment on the two U.S. aviators rescued following the downing of their F-15E Strike Eagle over Iran on April 3, 2026, whom he said were "doing very well." The dual nature of the day's events — a military rescue celebrated alongside a papal denunciation — illustrated the breadth of tensions surrounding the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.