WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has renewed his criticism of Pope Leo, describing it as “unacceptable” for Iran to possess nuclear weapons and expressing frustration over the pontiff’s earlier comments on the ongoing conflict.
In a strongly worded post on his social media platform on Wednesday, Trump reacted to the Pope’s remarks, which had addressed the humanitarian dimensions of the situation in Iran. The US president accused the religious leader of overlooking alleged violence by Iranian authorities against civilians.
“Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed protesters in the last two months,” Trump wrote, adding that allowing Iran to acquire a nuclear bomb would be “absolutely unacceptable”.
𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗱 𝗝. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟭𝟭:𝟯𝟰 𝗣𝗠 𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝟬𝟰.𝟭𝟰.𝟮𝟲
Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is…
— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 15, 2026
Trump’s comments underscore a widening rhetorical divide between political and religious voices over the Iran crisis. While the Pope’s earlier statements were perceived as emphasising peace, restraint, and humanitarian concerns, Trump’s response focused sharply on security threats and allegations of human rights abuses.
The exchange comes amid heightened global concern over Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader instability in the region. Western governments have long maintained that Iran must not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons, warning of severe geopolitical consequences.
Although Trump did not outline any specific policy measures in his latest remarks, his statement signals a continuation of his hardline stance on Iran, a position that has remained central to his foreign policy rhetoric. The Vatican has not yet issued a response to Trump’s latest comments.
