President Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night via social media, calling him “weak on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy.”
The President expressed concern over the Pope’s stance on Iran’s nuclear program and his support for illegal immigration crackdowns. He wrote, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. 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, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country.”
Pope Leo XIV had previously condemned Trump’s threat to “completely destroy Iranian civilization,” urging political leaders to reject war in favor of peace.
On Saturday, during a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope urged an end to the conflict through negotiations, stating that true strength is shown by serving life and not engaging in violence.
Trump also claimed Sunday that Leo would not have been elected pope without his support, writing, “I was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.”
The President reiterated these claims to reporters on Sunday night, stating, “We don’t like a Pope who says it’s OK to have a nuclear weapon.”