Donald Trump criticizes Pope Leo XIV over foreign and immigration policy

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly attacked Pope Leo XIV on Sunday via the Truth Social platform, labeling the pontiff as weak on crime and foreign policy. This criticism followed the Pope's vocal opposition to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, which began on February 28, and the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies. Pope Leo, the first U.S.-born pontiff elected last year, recently described the conflict in Iran as atrocious and criticized threats to destroy Iranian civilization. Trump speculated that the Pope's election was influenced by his American origins to facilitate dealing with his presidency. Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, defended the Pope, stating that he is not a politician but the Vicar of Christ. Academic experts noted the unprecedented nature of these direct attacks compared to historical figures like Mussolini or Hitler. The Vatican has not yet provided an official response to the President's statements. Trump further remarked to reporters that he is not a fan of the pontiff.