Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Trump attacks Pope Leo over Iran war criticism

President Donald Trump launched an unusual and sharp attack on Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff criticized the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, calling him 'WEAK on Crime' and 'terrible for Foreign Policy' on social media and to reporters. Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pope, pushed back on Monday while en route to Algeria, saying he had 'no fear of the Trump administration' and would continue to advocate for peace rooted in the Gospel. The exchange represents a rare and highly public feud between a sitting U.S. president and the leader of the Catholic Church.