United States President Donald Trump has launched a blistering and unusually personal attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the Catholic leader of bad leadership on crime, global security, and politics.
In a lengthy post shared on Truth Social, Trump accused the Pope of undermining both American interests and the global standing of the Catholic Church.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote, adding that the pontiff “talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church… had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers… for holding Church Services.”
The U.S. president continued by questioning the Pope’s stance on global security, particularly nuclear policy and U.S. military actions abroad.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon,” Trump said. “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela… a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States… and even worse, emptying their prisons… into our Country.”
Trump also took aim at the Pope’s criticism of his administration, insisting he was fulfilling his electoral mandate.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected… IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” he stated.
In one of the most controversial parts of the post, Trump questioned the legitimacy of Pope Leo’s emergence as pontiff, suggesting political motives behind his selection.
“Leo should be thankful because… he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope… If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump wrote.
The president further accused the Pope of aligning with left-leaning figures, singling out David Axelrod.
“He meets with Obama sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left… one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested,” Trump claimed.
Trump also contrasted the Pope with his brother, praising him for supporting his political ideology.
“I like his brother Louis much better… because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!” he added.
He concluded the statement with a direct warning to the pontiff: “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician… It’s hurting him very badly and… the Catholic Church.”
These criticisms from Trump came days after Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday.
Pope said prayer for peace is “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
The first US-born pope said: “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: “To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.”
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he added.
While the pope did not explicitly mention the US-Israeli war with Iran, or name any single country or president, his words will be read as his strongest condemnation yet of a conflict the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth has cast as a sacred struggle.
The pope’s remarks came during face-to-face negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in Pakistan to shore up a fragile truce and put a permanent end to hostilities.