Trump Criticizes Pope Leo on Social Media Amid Ongoing Tensions Over Iran Conflict

Trump Criticizes Pope Leo in Social Media Post Donald Trump posted on social media on Sunday, describing Pope Leo as 'weak' on crime and 'terrible' on foreign policy.

In the post, Trump suggested Leo became pope 'because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump,' amid ongoing disagreements over U.S. policy in the Middle East. The post followed weeks of cautious disagreement with the church over the war in the Middle East.

Trump spoke to reporters on the way back to Washington on Sunday. He said he was 'not a big fan' of Leo’s views, calling him 'very liberal'. Trump said, 'We don’t like a pope that’s going to say it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon', and he does not support any position that appears to be 'toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world'.

Pope Leo Responds on Papal Flight Pope Leo made comments aboard the papal flight to Algiers on Monday.

' Pope Leo is starting a 10-day tour to four African countries in Algiers. Pope Leo vowed on Monday to continue to 'speak out loudly against war'. He suggested on Monday that the Christian message was being 'abused'.

' Pope Leo said, 'Too many innocent people are being killed.

Catholic Leaders React to Criticism Catholics responded to Trump on social media for attacking Pope Leo, whom they believe is the successor of St Peter, one of the 12 disciples.

Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, issued a statement expressing disappointment in Trump's comments, stating, 'Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician.'

' Massimo Faggioli told Reuters that Trump’s comments clarified tensions between the Trump administration and the Catholic Church, drawing a historical parallel to WWII-era efforts by German and Italian leaders to influence Pope Pius XII.

Background on Pope Leo and Conflicts Pope Leo was elected pope in May 2025 following the death of Pope Francis.

Pope Leo is the first pope born in the US. Pope Leo has become an influential critic of Trump’s conflict with Iran. Pope Leo took issue with the conflict in Iran, calling it 'atrocious'. He called on Trump to find an off-ramp to end the war in Iran.

Pope Leo told faithful in an address on Palm Sunday that God rejected the prayers of leaders who start wars and have their 'hands full of blood'. Pope Leo had previously called for 'deep reflections' about the way migrants are being treated in the US. Pope Francis criticised Trump's immigration policy proposals when he first ran for president.

Pope Francis suggested Trump was 'not a Christian', and Trump called Francis 'disgraceful' in early 2016.