U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo on Sunday following public remarks from the pontiff that criticized elements of U.S. policy. In a post on Truth Social, the president described the pope as "WEAK on Crime and terrible for Foreign Policy." He later told reporters he was not a "big fan" of the pontiff.
The pope has been an outspoken critic of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. Among his public comments, the pontiff characterized the president's recent threat to "destroy Iranian civilization" as "unacceptable." The pope also urged "deep reflection" on how migrants are being treated in the United States under the Trump administration.
In his Truth Social post the president added a pointed admonition about the pontiff's role, writing, "Leo should get his act together as Pope." The exchange underscores a rare and public sharpening of rhetoric between the U.S. president and a senior religious leader.
Below are the central facts reported:
- President Trump publicly criticized Pope Leo on Truth Social, calling him "weak" on crime and "terrible" for foreign policy.
- The president later told reporters he was not a "big fan" of the pontiff.
- Pope Leo has criticized the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran that started on February 28 and labeled the president's threat to "destroy Iranian civilization" as "unacceptable."
- The pope also called for "deep reflection" on U.S. treatment of migrants under the Trump administration.
The article presents a succinct record of public statements by both figures without offering analysis beyond the quoted remarks. It reports the president's social-media post, his later comments to reporters, and the pope's public criticisms of both the Iran conflict and U.S. migration policy. No additional events, consequences, or reactions are detailed in the reporting.