Trump Attacks Pope Leo Over Iran War, Crime; Pontiff Vows to Continue Peace Advocacy
President Trump launched a sharp attack on Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, calling the first U.S.-born pontiff weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy. The criticism came after Leo, a Chicago native who became pope last year, spoke out against the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and called Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization unacceptable. Trump posted extensively on Truth Social and repeated his complaints to reporters, claiming Leo is catering to the radical left and saying he's not a big fan of the pope. Leo responded Monday from the papal plane en route to Algeria, saying he has no fear of the Trump administration and will continue advocating for peace through the Gospel. The clash represents the latest escalation between Trump and the Catholic Church leadership, with tensions that have been building over the pope's criticism of Trump's immigration policies and foreign interventions. Catholic voters comprise about one in five U.S. voters nationally and represent a key swing demographic, making this dispute politically significant.
Key facts
- Pope Leo XIV is the first U.S.-born pope, from Chicago, elected in 2025
- Trump called Leo 'WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy' in a Truth Social post on April 12, 2026
- The conflict centers on Leo's opposition to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that began in February 2026
- Leo called Trump's threat to destroy Iranian civilization 'truly unacceptable' on April 11
- Catholics comprise about 1 in 5 U.S. voters; Trump won Catholics by 10-20 points in 2024
- Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like healer, which he later deleted
- Pope Leo said he has 'no fear of the Trump administration' and will continue advocating for peace
- Trump claimed Leo was made pope specifically to deal with Trump, a claim without basis
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Left-leaning outlets and Democratic officials framed Trump's comments as an unprecedented and shameful attack on religious leadership. They highlighted that Trump posted an AI-generated image depicting himself as a Christ-like figure, which they characterized as blasphemous. Democrats like House Speaker Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump for attacking the pope and said faith communities reject such behavior.
Right-leaning coverage: Right-leaning outlets and Trump himself focused on the pope's perceived weakness on crime and support for policies Trump opposes, including constraints on the Iran war and criticism of immigration enforcement. Trump's supporters framed Leo as a liberal politician in religious garb who should focus on spiritual matters rather than politics. Vice President JD Vance downplayed the controversy, suggesting disagreements between U.S. leaders and the Vatican are normal.
Limits of this briefing
While major news outlets across the political spectrum covered this story, the immediate Vatican response remains limited—the Vatican press office had not formally commented as of Monday evening local time. Additionally, long-term political impact on Catholic voter behavior remains to be seen in upcoming elections.
Sources
- NBC News: Pope Leo says he has 'no fear' after Trump labels him 'weak' and 'terrible' in feud over Iran war Centre
- Axios: Trump attacks Pope Leo XIV, risking support from Catholic swing voters Centre
- CNN: Pope says he has 'no fear of Trump administration' after president slams his Iran war criticism Left
- CBS News: Trump calls Pope Leo 'WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy' Centre
- Al Jazeera: Pope Leo says he does not fear Trump after attack over Iran peace appeal Centre