Trump attacks Pope Leo, shares AI image of himself as Jesus Christ
A Vatican spokesperson rejected claims that a Pentagon official confronted Holy See's envoy, saying accounts of meeting were inaccurate
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) – President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Pope Leo XIV, describing the first U.S.-born pontiff as “a very liberal person” who “doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” while sharing an AI-generated image on Truth Social depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said bluntly: “I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo.” He also accused the pope of being ineffective on foreign policy following his calls for peace in Iran, and claimed Leo’s election was orchestrated by the Church to manage relations with his administration.
“He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that without his own time in office, Leo “wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
He also said he did not want “a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
The attacks drew a sharp response from Paul Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. “I am disheartened that the President chose to write such disparaging words about the Holy Father. Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” Coakley said.
The dispute has deepened against a backdrop of substantive policy differences. The Vatican has criticized the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy as “inhuman” and opposed US military action in the Middle East.
Pope Leo had condemned Trump’s warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” as “truly unacceptable,” while welcoming the subsequent U.S.-Iran ceasefire as “a sign of real hope.” Talks held in Islamabad, however, ended without agreement, with Vice President JD Vance saying Washington had presented its “final and best offer.”
Despite the escalating language, both Washington and the Vatican have denied reports of a formal diplomatic rupture.
A Vatican spokesperson rejected claims that a Pentagon official confronted the Holy See’s envoy, saying accounts of the meeting were inaccurate. More than 3,000 people have been killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran since February 28.
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
