U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday rejected claims of an escalating feud with Pope Leo XIV, even as he repeated a false assertion that the pontiff supports Iran possessing nuclear weapons—an accusation not backed by any public statement from the Vatican.
“I have nothing against the pope… I’m not fighting with him,” Trump told reporters. He then added, inaccurately, that “the pope made a statement, he says Iran can have a nuclear weapon.” No such statement has been made; Pope Leo has consistently spoken against nuclear proliferation and war.
Speaking during an այց to Cameroon, the pope condemned the use of religion to justify violence and urged global leaders to pursue diplomacy. Without naming Trump or Iran directly, he warned against “manipulat[ing] religion… for military, economic and political gain.”
Leo has emerged as a prominent critic of the ongoing Iran conflict, now in its seventh week, advocating dialogue and multilateral solutions. He reiterated earlier this week that the world is suffering under escalating violence and that “true strength is shown in serving life.”
The dispute has been amplified by Trump’s recent social media activity. The president posted an AI-generated image depicting himself embraced by Jesus Christ, drawing backlash from religious groups and political observers. Trump defended the post as harmless, calling criticism overblown.
Earlier, he removed another controversial image that critics said portrayed him as Jesus. Trump insisted it was meant to depict him as a “doctor” healing the nation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he personally urged Trump to delete the post. Vice President JD Vance described it as a misunderstood joke.
The tension between Trump and Pope Leo intensified after the president criticized the pontiff on social media, calling him “weak” and “terrible for foreign policy.” Trump also claimed—without evidence—that his presidency influenced Leo’s election as the first U.S.-born pope.
In response, the pope dismissed the criticism, stating he has “no fear” of the Trump administration and will continue advocating for peace. “Too many innocent people have been killed… someone must stand up and say there is a better way,” he said.
Trump’s friction with Pope Leo echoes earlier conflicts with Pope Francis, who publicly challenged Trump’s immigration policies during the 2016 campaign. That history underscores a broader ideological divide between the White House and the Vatican on issues of war, migration, and global leadership.
As the Iran conflict deepens, the rhetorical clash between Trump and Pope Leo highlights a widening gap between political power and moral authority on the world stage.
