Trump Falsely Claims Pope Leo XIV Supports Iran Having Nuclear Weapons

Donald Trump attacked Pope Leo XIV on Truth Social, falsely claiming the pontiff "thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon." Trump characterized the U.S.-born pope as "Weak on Nuclear Weapons" and criticized him for being "weak on crime" and "terrible for foreign policy." The attacks came after Pope Leo issued calls for peace amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. Trump later doubled down, posting that it is "absolutely unacceptable" for Iran to have a nuclear bomb and claiming Iran killed 42,000 protesters. There is no evidence Pope Leo ever expressed support for Iran having nuclear weapons; Trump's characterization misrepresents the Pope's peace advocacy as weakness on nuclear proliferation. Pope Leo XIV had actually called for diplomatic de-escalation and dialogue to prevent nuclear conflict in the region.

"I don't want a Pope who thinks it's OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. Weak on Nuclear Weapons, weak on crime, terrible for foreign policy." — Trump's Truth Social post attacking Pope Leo XIV, followed by additional posts claiming Iran killed 42,000 protesters and that it is 'absolutely unacceptable' for Iran to have nuclear weapons