Trump falsely accuses Pope Leo XIV of supporting Iran nuclear weapons, instructs Rubio to convey message

Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed that Pope Leo XIV believes it is acceptable for Iran to possess nuclear weapons, despite the Pope's clear and consistent opposition to all nuclear arms. In a May 5, 2026 appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show, Trump stated: "The Pope would rather talk about the fact that it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." Trump also claimed the Pope was "endangering Catholics and a lot of people" through his foreign policy views. Trump instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey this false message to the pontiff during Rubio's May 8 visit to Rome. Pope Leo XIV has never made any statement supporting nuclear weapons in Iran and has specifically spoken against nuclear weapons and their devastation, stating in his March 2026 encyclical that "nuclear arms represent an absolute moral evil." The attacks came amid tensions between the White House and Vatican over the war in Iran. The Vatican issued a formal statement on May 8 calling Trump's characte...

"The Pope would rather talk about the fact that it's OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon." — Statement made during May 5, 2026 appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show, three days before instructing Secretary of State Rubio to convey this false message to the Vatican