President Donald Trump criticized Pope Leon XIV after his anti-war message. The Pope stated on April 13, 2026 that he had “no response” to give to Donald Trump after the president claimed the day before that he is “not a big fan” of the Pope following his anti-war speech.
Trump declared on Sunday that he is “not a big admirer” of Pope Leon XIV, who had delivered a strong speech against the conflict the day before, and lashed out at him on social media. “I am not a big admirer of Pope Leon. He is very progressive, and he is a man who does not believe in fighting crime,” Trump told journalists at Andrews military base in Maryland.
He accused the pope of “playing with a country that wants to acquire nuclear weapons,” referring to Iran. Shortly after, Trump posted a long message on his Truth Social network accusing Pope Leon XIV of supporting Iran’s nuclear weapons program, opposing the US military operation in Venezuela in January, and meeting with supporters of former Democratic president Barack Obama, among other things.
“I don’t want a pope who criticizes the president of the United States, because I am doing exactly what I was elected to do, OVERWHELMINGLY, which is to reduce crime to historically low levels and create the biggest stock market in history,” the Republican president also wrote.
Trump accompanied his message with an image generated by artificial intelligence in which he is seen, in a white and red gown, placing his hand on the forehead of a sick person in a hospital bed, surrounded by people in prayer, with a backdrop of the American flag, the Statue of Liberty, fighter jets, eagles, and other figures in the sky.
Pope Leon XIV called for “forgiveness” upon his arrival for a historic visit to Algeria on Monday. On the plane taking him from Rome to Algiers, the first stop of an 11-day tour of four African countries, the American pontiff responded to accompanying journalists that he had no “intention of entering into a debate” with Donald Trump and that he was not “afraid” of his administration.
In one of his most vehement criticisms of the conflicts engulfing the planet, particularly in the Middle East, Leon XIV declared on Saturday that faith was necessary “to face together this dramatic moment in history.” “Enough of the idolatry of the self and money! Enough of demonstrations of strength! Enough war! True strength is shown in serving life,” the American pope said during a prayer vigil for peace at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.
