President Trump Attacks Pope Leon XIV After His Anti-war Message
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he is “not a big admirer” of Pope Leon XIV, who had delivered a strong speech against conflict the day before and engaged in a violent diatribe against him on social media.
“I am not a big admirer of Pope Leon. He is a very progressive person, and he is a man who does not believe in fighting crime,” said Mr. Trump to reporters at Andrews military base in Maryland.
He accused the pontiff of “playing with a country that wants to acquire nuclear weapons,” referring to Iran.
Shortly after, Donald Trump posted a long message on his Truth Social platform, accusing Pope Leon XIV of supporting the Iranian nuclear weapons program, opposing the US military operation in Venezuela in January, and meeting with supporters of former Democratic president Barack Obama, among other things.
“Pope Leon is WEAK on crime, and catastrophic in foreign policy,” begins the message from the US president.
He further asserts that Leon XIV was named pope “simply because he is American, and [the church] thought it would be the best way to handle President Donald J. Trump,” stating: “Leon would not be at the Vatican if I were not in the White House.”
“I don’t want a pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I am doing exactly what I was elected, OVERWHELMINGLY, to do, which is to bring crime down to historically low levels and create the greatest stock market in history,” the Republican president also wrote.
Donald Trump accompanied his message with an image generated by artificial intelligence in which he is seen, in a white and red robe, placing his hand on the forehead of a sick person in a hospital bed, surrounded by people in prayer, with an American flag, Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, eagles, and other figures in the sky.
Meanwhile, Pope Leon XIV called for “forgiveness” upon his arrival for a historic visit to Algeria.
On the plane taking him from Rome to Algiers, the first stop of an 11-day tour in four African countries, the American pontiff responded to accompanying journalists that he did not “intend to enter into a debate” with Donald Trump and that he was not “afraid” of his administration.
Harsh Criticisms
In one of his most vehement criticisms of the conflicts engulfing the planet, particularly in the Middle East, Leon XIV stated on Saturday that faith is necessary “to face together this dramatic moment in history.”
“Enough of self-idolatry and money! Enough of displays of strength! Enough of war! True strength is shown by serving life,” the American pope proclaimed during a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
“Dear brothers and sisters, there are certainly imperative responsibilities that fall to the leaders of nations. To them we cry out: stop! It is time to make peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation, and not at the table where rearmament is planned and where deadly actions are decided!” he also declared.
As he has done in the past, he did not mention any political leaders by name and did not single out any particular country. Since his election in May 2025, Leon XIV, born in Chicago, has taken a clear stance against certain decisions of the Trump administration while keeping communication channels open.
