Trump vs Pope Leo XIV: Feud Over Iran War
President Trump and Pope Leo XIV are in an open dispute over the US-Israel war on Iran, the biggest US president-pope rift in modern history.
Trumpโs Attacks
* Called Leo โWEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policyโ on Truth Social.
* Claimed Leo supports Iran having nukes, despite no such statement from the pope.
* Said โI don't want a Pope who criticizes the Presidentโ and that Leo wasnโt on anyoneโs list pre-conclave.
* Posted, then deleted, an AI image of himself in a Christ-like pose, saying he thought it showed him as a doctor.
* Claimed โIran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months.โ
Pope Leoโs Response
From his plane to Algeria: โI do not fear anything from the Trump administration nor am I afraid to speak loud and clear on the Gospel message.โ
* Called Trumpโs pre-strike threats against Iranian civilization โtruly unacceptableโ under international law.
* Palm Sunday: โJesus Christ is the King of Peace, who rejects war; no one can claim him in justification of war.โ
* Urges Americans to contact Congress, framing the clash as strong figures โdevastating the world.โ
Global Fallout
* Italyโs PM Giorgia Meloni called Trumpโs remarks unacceptable, saying itโs โnatural and rightโ for the pope to seek peace.
* Analyst Elise Ann Allen says Trump feels threatened by Leoโs rising stature, noting moderate Catholics helped him win.
* Tensions land ahead of the April 22 Iran ceasefire expiry.
Political Stakes
Trump is juggling Iran nuclear talks, crypto law, and midterms where Catholic voters are key.
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