Tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV escalated this week after Trump publicly mischaracterized the pontiff’s stance on nuclear weapons, amid a broader dispute over the ongoing Iran conflict.
Speaking to reporters Thursday, Trump insisted he is “not fighting” with the pope, but claimed—without evidence—that Leo supports Iran possessing nuclear weapons. “The pope made a statement, he says Iran can have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said. “And I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
There is no record of Pope Leo making such a statement. The pontiff has consistently opposed nuclear proliferation and has called for diplomatic solutions to the war, now entering its seventh week.
During a speech in Bamenda, Cameroon, Leo sharply criticized the use of religion to justify violence, warning against leaders who “manipulate religion” for political or military ends. He did not reference Trump or Iran’s nuclear program directly but emphasized the human cost of war.
“The masters of war pretend not to know that it takes only a moment to destroy,” Leo said. “Yet often a lifetime is not enough to rebuild.”
(Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: @realDonaldTrump via Truth Social)
In remarks to journalists earlier this week, the pope dismissed Trump’s criticism, stating he has “no fear” of the administration and will continue advocating for peace, dialogue, and multilateral cooperation.
The dispute coincides with backlash over Trump’s recent social media activity. The president posted an AI-generated image depicting himself embraced by Jesus, days after removing another controversial image that critics said portrayed him as Christ.
Trump defended the earlier post, claiming it was meant to depict him as a doctor “fixing” problems. Allies, including Vice President JD Vance, described the posts as humor, though some conservative supporters urged their removal.
House Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed he personally asked Trump to delete the image, citing confusion among supporters.
The rhetoric intensified after Trump criticized the pope on social media, calling him “weak” and accusing him of undermining U.S. policy on Iran. Trump also claimed, without evidence, that his presidency influenced Leo’s election as pope.
Leo, once cautious in addressing U.S. politics, has grown more outspoken as the conflict has escalated. He recently condemned what he described as a “delusion of omnipotence” driving the war and urged leaders to reject “the display of power” in favor of protecting human life.
Trump’s clashes with Catholic leadership echo earlier tensions with Pope Francis, who criticized Trump’s immigration policies during the 2016 campaign.
The current dispute underscores a widening divide between political and religious voices over war, morality, and global leadership—one likely to deepen as the Iran conflict continues.
