President Trump Criticizes Pope Leo XIV on Crime, Foreign Policy in Social Media Post

President Donald Trump issued sharp criticism of Pope Leo XIV in a lengthy post on Truth Social on Sunday night, April 13, 2026. He described the pope as weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy. The post also referenced the pope's brother, Louis Prevost, as a supporter of Trump's agenda.

Trump's comments addressed the pope's recent statements on the US-Israel war in Iran and immigration policies. The pope had condemned the war as atrocious and urged leaders to end conflicts. Trump stated he does not want a pope who accepts Iran having a nuclear weapon or who views the US attack on Venezuela negatively.

In the post, Trump highlighted his administration's record on crime and the stock market. He urged the pope to focus on being a great pope rather than a politician and to stop catering to the radical left. Trump also mentioned the pope's election as a surprise tied to his American background.

Background of the Exchange The criticism marks a shift from Trump's earlier positive remarks on the pope's election in May 2025.

At that time, Trump called having an American pope a great honor. The pope's recent addresses included a Palm Sunday message against using God's name to justify wars and a condemnation of the idolatry of self in the Iran conflict. Trump repeated similar criticisms to journalists upon deplaning from Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

He said the pope is a very liberal person who does not believe in stopping crime. These remarks occurred shortly after the social media post. Approximately 45 minutes after the initial post, Trump shared an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself in a robe, appearing to heal a sick man with American imagery.

The image drew condemnation from Marjorie Taylor Greene, who described it as portraying the president as replacing Jesus.

Pope's Response and Context Pope Leo XIV responded to the criticism on Monday, April 14, 2026, while speaking to reporters aboard the papal plane to Algeria.

He stated that people can draw their own conclusions from the remarks and emphasized seeking peace over entering debates. The pope reiterated that he speaks about the Gospel and has no intention of being a politician. He addressed fears of the Trump administration, saying he is not afraid.

This response came amid ongoing papal calls for an end to wars, including the conflict in Iran. Trump's post referenced past restrictions on church services during COVID-19, contrasting them with current policies. The exchange occurs against the backdrop of the pope's consistent condemnations of the Iran war without naming specific leaders.

Reactions from Allies and Critics Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former congresswoman and Trump ally, posted on X late Sunday criticizing both the attack on the pope and the AI image.

She linked it to the pope's opposition to the Iran war and called for its deletion. Other figures, including Michael Knowles and Riley Gaines, echoed concerns about the image's implications on humility and faith. The pope's statements on immigration have included veiled rebukes of policies allowing prison releases into the US.

Trump defended the attack on Venezuela as a response to drug trafficking and criminal migration. No direct response from the Vatican beyond the pope's comments was reported. This public spat highlights tensions between political leadership and religious authority on issues like war, crime, and faith in public discourse.