‘I Have Right To Disagree With Pope’: Trump After Online Feud With Pontiff

Last Updated:April 17, 2026, 02:03 IST

Trump, who had dismissed the pope as “weak” and “wrong” in recent days, further denied that he was “fighting” with the pontiff and said he had “nothing against” him.

Trump says he is responsible for Leo’s appointment, and has accused him of being “weak” on foreign policy.

Trump vs Pope: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Pope Leo XIV is free to say anything he likes about world issues, but he needs to understand the realities of a “nasty world.”

While speaking to reporters, the US President sought to school the Vatican leader about the war situation in Iran, saying that the latter needs to understand that Iran has killed 42,000 people who were completely unarmed protesters.

Trump, who had dismissed the pope as “weak” and “wrong” in recent days, further denied that he was “fighting” with the pontiff and said he had “nothing against” him.

“I have nothing against the Pope. It is very important that the Pope understands that Iran has killed 42,000 people who were completely unarmed protesters, and Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon… I have a right to disagree with the Pope,” he said.

The US President has launched a series of direct and increasingly personal attacks on Pope Leo XIV over his criticism of the Iran war, calling him “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy” and even questioning why he was elected Pope. He also accused Leo of acting like a politician and said his actions were harming the Catholic Church.

He also has claimed that he is responsible for Pope Leo XIV’s appointment. Trump suggested that the Church chose an American pontiff to deal with him. Notably, Leo, who is from Chicago, is the first American Pope. Trump said, without evidence, that Leo was not originally considered for the role and was selected only because he was American.

ope Leo XIV has consistently called for restraint, ceasefire, and dialogue, warning against escalation and highlighting the humanitarian cost of conflict. In his interventions, he cautioned against what he described as the “delusion of omnipotence” that fuels wars and criticised the use of religion to justify military action.

Earlier on Thursday, Pope delivered one of his strongest condemnations of global conflict since taking office, criticising leaders who spend billions on war while neglecting healing and education, and warning that the world is being “ravaged by a handful of tyrants”.

Speaking during a visit to Cameroon, the pontiff said some leaders had manipulated “the very name of God” for political and military gain.

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