Trump attacks Pope over criticism of Iran war

Trump Criticizes Pope for Stance on Iran and Immigration

President Donald Trump has criticized Pope Leo for his opposition to U.S. immigration policies and his critique of the war in Iran. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump labeled the pontiff as “WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy,” later stating to reporters that he was “not a big fan” of the Pope. This came amid the Pope’s ongoing 11-day visit to Africa, his second significant international trip since taking office last year.

Pope’s Opposition to War and Immigration Policy

The Pope has consistently opposed the conflict with Iran, calling Trump’s threats to obliterate the country’s civilization “unacceptable.” He urged the U.S. leader to seek an “off-ramp” to end the war. Additionally, the Pope questioned whether Trump’s strict immigration measures aligned with the Catholic Church’s pro-life values. Trump’s remarks were interpreted as a critique of the Pope’s stance on nuclear weapons, referencing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions as a key justification for the war.

“I don’t think he’s doing a very good job, he likes crime, I guess.” – Trump, explaining his criticism of the Pope.

In the same post, Trump suggested the Pope was elected “because he was American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump.” He added, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” The comments sparked backlash from Catholics, with one scholar likening the attack to historical interactions between the Pope and fascist leaders during World War Two.

“Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the Pope so directly and publicly,” said Massimo Faggioli, as reported by Reuters.

The Pope has used public speeches to condemn global conflicts and advocate for peace in the Middle East. When Trump declared that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” in reference to Iran, the Pope called the statement “truly unacceptable.” During an Easter address, he emphasized the growing desensitization to violence, urging those with weapons to lay them down and those in power to choose peace over war.