Leo, who final 12 months turned the primary US-born pope, has emerged as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli conflict on Iran.
Printed On 13 Apr 2026
United States President Donald Trump has unleashed a storm of criticism at Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “horrible for international coverage”.
Trump delivered the weird criticism of the top of the Catholic Church in a Sunday evening put up on social media, saying he doesn’t “need a Pope who criticises the President of america”.
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Trump’s outburst gave the impression to be triggered by latest remarks from Pope Leo crucial of the US-Israel conflict on Iran.
Final week, Leo issued a uncommon direct rebuke of Trump’s menace to destroy Iranian civilisation, calling it “really unacceptable“. After which, on Sunday, the 70-year-old pontiff implored leaders to finish ongoing bloodshed, condemning what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” fuelling conflict – feedback that appeared directed at Trump.
The pope has additionally beforehand questioned the Trump administration’s hardline immigration insurance policies, saying, “I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”
Taking to Reality Social, Trump wrote: “I don’t need a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t need a Pope who thinks it’s horrible that America attacked Venezuela.”
“Leo ought to get his act collectively as Pope, use Widespread Sense, cease catering to the Radical Left, and give attention to being a Nice Pope, not a Politician,” mentioned the US president.
Trump additionally claimed credit score for Leo’s management within the Catholic Church, suggesting the Vatican picked the primary US-born pontiff – elected final 12 months – to curry favour with the White Home. “If I wasn’t within the White Home, Leo wouldn’t be within the Vatican,” Trump mentioned.
Requested concerning the feedback afterward Sunday, Trump reiterated that he’s “not an enormous fan” of Leo, who he mentioned “just isn’t doing an excellent job”.
“He likes crime, I suppose,” mentioned Trump. “He’s a really liberal particular person.”
Trump additionally had a rocky relationship with Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticised Trump’s immigration coverage proposals when he first ran for president and prompt Trump was “not a Christian“. Trump had known as Francis “disgraceful” in early 2016.
Leo is about to start an 11-day journey to Africa on Monday, beginning with a historic go to to Muslim-majority Algeria.
