Donald Trump has criticised Pope Leo, describing him as too “weak on crime” and terrible at handling foreign policy.
He also stated that Pope Leo’s rise in 2025 as the first American pontiff was politically motivated, alleging that the Catholic Church supported Leo’s selection to better navigate relations with his administration.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” Trump said, adding that the pope’s positions on crime, security and global conflicts were out of step with his administration.
Trump made this known in a post shared on his Truth platform on Sunday night.
In his remarks, Trump described Pope Leo as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” arguing that the pontiff had unfairly criticised his administration while overlooking actions taken against religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also took issue with the pope’s stance on nuclear weapons and international conflicts, particularly comments suggesting restraint and dialogue in dealing with global tensions.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, while defending US foreign policy decisions and military actions.
Speaking later to journalists, Trump said he was “not a fan” of the pope, describing him as “very liberal” and questioning his leadership approach.
The pope’s comments that triggered the latest exchange were made during prayers at St Peter’s Basilica, where he warned against escalating violence across the world and criticised what he called a growing “delusion of omnipotence” among global powers.
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“Enough of the idolatry of self and money… Enough of war,” Pope Leo said, urging leaders to prioritise peace, restraint and dialogue.
In earlier remarks posted on X, the pontiff also condemned ongoing conflicts involving the US, Israel and Iran, insisting that “God does not bless any conflict” and cautioning against invoking religion to justify violence.
Pope Leo has repeatedly criticised mass deportations and immigration raids in the United States, describing such actions as inhumane and contrary to human dignity.
He also declined participation in a US-backed peace initiative for Gaza and cancelled a planned visit to the United States, opting instead to meet with migrants — moves seen as subtle but pointed signals of disagreement with Washington.
Tensions between Trump and the Vatican first surfaced shortly after the pope’s election in 2025.