United States President Donald Trump has launched a blistering and unusually personal attack on Pope Leo XIV, accusing the Catholic leader of bad leadership on crime, global security, and politics, while also sharing an AI-generated image depicting himself as Jesus Christ.
In the image shared on Truth Social, Trump is robed and surrounded by radiant light, while seemingly performing a healing, with figures resembling angels or soldiers levitating around him.
Fighter jets streak across the sky, fireworks explode overhead, and the Statue of Liberty looms in the background — elements that project a mix of religious symbolism and American military power.
Trump’s post followed his criticisms of Pope Leo XIV.
In a Truth Social post, Trump described the pope as “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” after the pontiff called for an end to rising global conflicts.
“Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump wrote
“He talks about ‘fear’ of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the fear that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian organisations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else for holding church services.”
The US president also criticised the pontiff’s stance on global issues, including nuclear weapons and recent military actions.
Trump suggested that Leo’s election as pope was politically motivated, claiming he was chosen because he is American.
“I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon. I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States,” he said.
“And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History.
“Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.
“If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me.”
In subsequent remarks to reporters, Trump said he is “not a fan” of the pope.
“I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. He likes crime I guess. He’s a very liberal person,” he added.
These criticisms from Trump came days after Pope Leo XIV stepped into the international political arena at evening prayers in St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City on Saturday.
Pope said prayer for peace is “a bulwark against that delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive.”
The first US-born pope said: “Even the holy Name of God, the God of life, is being dragged into discourses of death.”
Addressing world leaders who decide to go to war, Leo said: “To them we cry out: stop! It is time for peace! Sit at the table of dialogue and mediation – not at the table where rearmament is planned and deadly actions are decided.”
“Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life,” he added.
While the pope did not explicitly mention the US-Israeli war with Iran, or name any single country or president, his words will be read as his strongest condemnation yet of a conflict the US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth has cast as a sacred struggle.
The pope’s remarks came during face-to-face negotiations between US and Iranian delegations in Pakistan to shore up a fragile truce and put a permanent end to hostilities.