Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Pope Leo XIV via Truth Social and public remarks, sparking a diplomatic and religious backlash, after the pontiff criticized Trump’s threats toward Iran and denounced the "delusion of omnipotence" driving the U.S.-Israeli war.
In a late-night Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump called the pope — the first U.S.-born pontiff — “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” claimed “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon”, and asserted “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican,” suggesting the Church appointed him to appease Trump. He also praised the pope’s brother, Louis Prevost, as “all MAGA.”
Pope Leo, aboard a papal flight to Algeria, responded calmly, stating he had “no fear of the Trump administration” and would continue advocating for peace, dialogue, and multilateralism, calling it his “moral duty” under the Gospel.
Trump further inflamed tensions by posting an AI-generated image of himself dressed in biblical robes, laying hands on a sick man with glowing light emanating from his fingers, evoking depictions of Jesus healing the sick. The image, posted during Orthodox Easter, which included a U.S. flag, eagles, and military figures, was deleted by Tuesday, amid widespread condemnation. Trump claimed it was meant to show him “as a doctor”, not as Christ, but critics, including evangelical and Catholic leaders, called it blasphemous.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, head of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, stated he was “disheartened” and emphasized that the pope “is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ.”
Prominent figures such as American activist and athlete Riley Gaines, commentator Michael Knowles, former congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, and commentator David Brody labeled the image as "gross blasphemy" and "egomaniacal," with Gaines stating, "God shall not be mocked," and Greene calling it an "Antichrist spirit."
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned insults directed at Pope Leo and criticized the Trump's AI-generated image, calling the "desecration of Jesus" unacceptable. In a post on X on Monday, 2026, Pezeshkian stated, "I condemn the insult to Your Excellency on behalf of the great nation of Iran, and declare that the desecration of Jesus, the prophet of peace and brotherhood, is not acceptable to any free person. I wish you glory by Allah."
When asked about the image, Trump claimed he intended it to show him as a doctor working with the Red Cross, stating, "I viewed that as a picture of me being a doctor... as a little fun playing the doctor and making people better," and blamed the "fake news" for the controversy.
The White House initially defended the post as an "internet meme" but later admitted a staffer had "erroneously" made the post after fierce criticism from Republican senators and faith-based media.
Vice President J.D. Vance, a Catholic, downplayed the incident, calling it a "joke" that Trump deleted because people "weren't understanding his humor," while also defending the President's unfiltered social media style. Speaking at a Turning Point USA event at the University of Georgia, on Tuesday, the vice president said the Pope should "be careful when he talks about matters of theology."
“I think that one of the issues here is that if you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful,” Vance continued, “you’ve got to make sure it’s anchored in the truth. And that’s one of the things that I try to do and it’s certainly something I would expect from clergy, whether they’re Catholic or Protestant.”
Vance's remarks drew reaction the U.S. bishops’ Committee on Doctrine who said that Pope Leo wasn’t merely trying to “opine” as the vice president suggested.
In a statement, the committee writes, "In light of recent public comments regarding the Catholic Church’s teaching on war and peace, Bishop James Massa, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, issued the following statement:
"‘For over a thousand years, the Catholic Church has taught just war theory and it is that long tradition the Holy Father carefully references in his comments on war. A constant tenet of that thousand-year tradition is a nation can only legitimately take up the sword ‘in self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2308). That is, to be a just war it must be a defense against another who actively wages war, which is what the Holy Father actually said: ‘He does not listen to the prayers of those who wage war.’
"When Pope Leo XIV speaks as supreme pastor of the universal Church, he is not merely offering opinions on theology, he is preaching the Gospel and exercising his ministry as the Vicar of Christ. The consistent teaching of the Church is insistent that all people of good will must pray and work toward lasting peace while avoiding the evils and injustices that accompany all wars."
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned Trump’s remarks as “unacceptable,” asserting that the pope has a right to call for peace. This marked a rare public rebuke from Meloni, a conservative ally who previously sought to bridge Trump with European leaders.
Trump retaliated, telling Corriere della Sera that “It is she who is unacceptable” and warned Iran could “blow up Italy in two minutes” if it acquired nuclear weapons.
Despite backlash from Catholic leaders and former allies, Trump refused to apologize, but instead doubled down. " Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable," he claimed.
