Trump says he is ‘not a big fan’ of ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’ Pope Leo

President Donald Trump sharply rebuked Pope Leo XIV in remarks to reporters and in a social media put up on Sunday, calling the primary American chief of the Catholic church “WEAK on crime” and “horrible for International Coverage.”

“I don’t suppose he’s doing an excellent job. He likes crime, I suppose,” Trump informed reporters at Joint Base Andrews when requested about his prolonged Reality Social put up Sunday night time criticizing the pontiff.

“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say that it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon. We don’t desire a pope that claims crime is okay in our cities. I don’t prefer it. I’m not an enormous fan of Pope Leo,” Trump added.

The Vatican didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

The pope final week criticized Trump’s public threats to “wipe out” Iranian civilization, saying that “assaults on civilian infrastructure is in opposition to worldwide legislation,” and urging folks to contact leaders and congressmen to name for peace. He has urged Trump to finish the warfare in Iran, and lamented in his Easter message final week that the world is “turning into detached” to violence. Leo had additionally beforehand criticized the Trump administration’s immigration insurance policies.

“Leo must be grateful as a result of, as everybody is aware of, he was a stunning shock. He wasn’t on any checklist to be Pope, and was solely put there by the Church as a result of he was an American, they usually thought that may be one of the best ways to cope with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn’t within the White Home, Leo wouldn’t be within the Vatican,” Trump mentioned in a Reality Social put up.

Trump hasn’t at all times been crucial of Leo. On the time, Trump referred to as the pope’s Could 2025 election “an honor for our nation.”

“It’s such an ideal honor for our nation to have an American pope. I imply, what better honor may there be? That we have been slightly bit stunned, very completely happy. However only a nice, completely nice honor,” Trump mentioned on the time.

A March NBC Information ballot discovered U.S. voters seen Pope Leo extra favorably than the president. 42% of respondents mentioned they’d a constructive view of the pope, whereas simply 8% had a destructive view of him. Whereas 41% of respondents mentioned they’d a constructive view of Trump, 53% mentioned they’d a destructive view of him.