On Sunday evening, President Donald Trump launched a pointed critique of Pope Leo XIV, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of the US-born leader of the Catholic Church. Trump characterized the pontiff as “a very liberal person” and suggested that he should “stop catering to the Radical Left.”
While returning to Washington from Florida, Trump utilized a detailed social media post to express his discontent with Leo, which he reiterated in remarks to reporters upon landing.
“I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” Trump stated plainly.
This criticism followed Pope Leo’s comments over the weekend, where he implied that a “delusion of omnipotence” was contributing to the ongoing US-Israel conflict regarding Iran. It is not uncommon for popes and presidents to have differing views, but it is rare for a pontiff to openly criticize a US leader, making Trump’s strong rebuttal equally noteworthy.
In his post, Trump labeled Pope Leo as “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” adding, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s acceptable for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
He echoed this sentiment in his remarks to the press, stating, “We don’t like a pope who says it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon.”
Pope Leo led an evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, coinciding with the start of direct negotiations between the United States and Iran in Pakistan amid a fragile ceasefire. Although the pope did not directly mention the United States or Trump, his tone appeared aimed at the current administration, which has often justified military actions using religious rhetoric.
Before departing for an 11-day trip to Africa, the pope had previously articulated that God “does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war, but rejects them,” referencing an Old Testament verse from Isaiah that states, “even though you make many prayers, I will not listen – your hands are full of blood.”
Prior to the ceasefire, when Trump warned of significant military strikes against Iranian infrastructure, Leo described such threats as “truly unacceptable.”
However, in his recent social media commentary, Trump expanded his criticism of the pope beyond the Iran conflict.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s wrong that America attacked Venezuela, a country that was sending large amounts of drugs into the United States,” he remarked, alluding to the Trump administration’s ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.
Additionally, Trump expressed frustration that the pope criticized him despite his electoral victory, stating, “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.”
Trump further suggested that Leo’s papacy was a result of his American origins, implying it was a strategic move to manage relations with him. “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” he claimed, urging the pope to “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,” asserting that this approach is detrimental to both the pope and the Catholic Church.
In follow-up comments to reporters, Trump maintained his critical stance, saying, “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess,” and reiterated his view of Leo as “a very liberal person.”
In the 2024 election, Trump garnered 55% of the Catholic vote, according to AP VoteCast, a comprehensive survey of the electorate. However, his administration has also built strong connections with conservative evangelical Protestant leaders, who have claimed divine support for the military efforts in Iran.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called on Americans to pray for victory “in the name of Jesus Christ.” When asked whether he believed God approved of the war, Trump responded affirmatively, stating, “I do, because God is good – because God is good and God wants to see people taken care of.”
