President Donald Trump renews his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, saying the pontiff’s approach to the war in Iran is “endangering a lot of Catholics.” In an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt, Trump argues that the pope appears to think “it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon,” adding that the pope is putting Catholics and others at risk. The renewed comments restart a public feud between Trump and the Vatican that has repeatedly focused on the U.S. response to the conflict involving Iran.
According to the reporting, Trump’s remarks come as the pope has responded to earlier Trump claims, including by challenging the accuracy and implications of the accusation that he supports Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. The outlets describe an ongoing exchange in which Trump frames his criticism in terms of Catholic safety and geopolitical danger, while the pope’s statements function as a rebuttal to Trump’s characterization of his views. The reports describe the dispute as part of a broader pattern of clashes tied to the Iran war and the messages the pope delivers on the issue.
