Presidents of the United States don’t usually make it a practice to attack the sitting Pope, but Donald Trump did just that on Sunday night.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” the president said on Truth Social on Sunday. “He talks about “fear” of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart.”
Trump added that he prefers the pope’s brother, who is a vocal Trump supporter.
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“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump added.
He also added that Leo wouldn’t have been the choice of Trump, a non-Catholic.
“He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Trump further elaborated when speaking to reporters.
Reporter: Why did you attack Pope Leo?
Trump: I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess. We don’t like a pope who says it’s ok to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t want a pope that says crime is ok. I am not a fan of Pope Leo. pic.twitter.com/cj3oh1jSIL
— Acyn (@Acyn) April 13, 2026
There were some pretty shocked reactions online to Trump going after the sitting pope like this.
Trump isn’t beating the antichrist allegations with these attacks on the pope pic.twitter.com/hYj3M3CkTB
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 13, 2026
Trump attacking the Pope on the same week as he is “praising allah”. So mocking two of the world’s religions in one week . . . It’s time for more cognitive testing.
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) April 13, 2026
Demented. In its claims, and in the tone it strikes toward the Vicar of Christ, the spiritual leader of 1.4 billion. https://t.co/8k8FhEb1vm
— Sohrab Ahmari (@SohrabAhmari) April 13, 2026
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
