WASHINGTON: Donald Trump launched a sharp attack on Pope Leo XIV late Sunday, following the pontiff’s criticism of his foreign and immigration policies. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote,
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy.”
Leo, who became the first US-born pope last year, has been an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran that began on February 28. He has also previously raised concerns about the Trump administration’s stance on immigration.
“Leo should get his act together as Pope,” Trump said in the same post, later telling reporters that he was “not a big fan” of the pontiff.Trump further accused Leo of being “weak on nuclear weapons,” days after the pope condemned the US president’s threat to destroy Iranian civilisation as “truly unacceptable.”
During a Palm Sunday address last month at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, the pope stated that God does not accept the prayers of leaders who initiate wars and have their “hands full of blood,” describing the conflict in Iran as “atrocious.”Leo has also urged Trump to seek an “off-ramp” to end the conflict and reduce violence.In his Truth Social post, Trump suggested that Leo was chosen as pope last year “because he was an American,” claiming it was seen as a way to better deal with him.
The Vatican did not immediately respond to requests for comment.The pope has also called for “deep reflection” on how migrants are treated in the United States.Last year, Leo questioned whether Trump’s strict immigration policies align with the Catholic Church’s pro-life teachings.
In September, he remarked, “Someone who says I am against abortion but I am in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don’t know if that’s pro-life.”The Vatican leader’s call for a more compassionate immigration approach—echoing sentiments expressed by several of his predecessors—contrasts with Trump’s position that immigration from developing countries should be limited to reduce crime.
“He’s a very liberal person and he’s a man who doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump told reporters on Sunday night.Trump also had a strained relationship with Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticised Trump’s immigration proposals during his first presidential campaign and suggested that Trump was “not a Christian.” In response, Trump had called Francis “disgraceful” in early 2016.