Trump Denies Feud with Pope While Repeating False Nuclear Weapons Claim
Former President Donald Trump has publicly denied having any conflict with Pope Leo XIV while simultaneously spreading a demonstrably false claim that the Catholic leader supports Iran's right to possess nuclear weapons. Speaking to reporters outside the White House on Thursday, April 16, 2026, before departing for political events in Las Vegas and Arizona, Trump attempted to downplay their ongoing disagreement.
"I'm Not Fighting with Him"
"I'm not fighting with him. The pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon," Trump told journalists gathered on the South Lawn. This assertion directly contradicts the Pope's documented positions and public statements.
Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Prevost in Chicago, has never endorsed Iran or any nation possessing nuclear weapons. In fact, he has consistently advocated against nuclear proliferation. Most recently, in a March 5 video address, he prayed for nations to "renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy" so that "the nuclear threat" would "never again dictate the future of humanity."
Background of the Disagreement
The tension between Trump and the pontiff began earlier this week when Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump's aggressive rhetoric toward Iran. The president had threatened attacks on civilian infrastructure and warned that Iran's "whole civilization will die... never to be brought back again" while pressuring Tehran to agree to a ceasefire and open the Strait of Hormuz.
After the Pope described Trump's threats against Iranian civilians as "truly unacceptable," the former president responded on Truth Social late Sunday. In a post that was part of a late-night spree that included an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus, Trump blasted Leo as "WEAK" on crime and "terrible" on foreign policy.
Trump's Justification
When pressed by reporters about why he continued to feud with the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, Trump defended his actions. "The pope has to understand that this is the real world. It's a nasty world. But as far as the pope and saying what he wants, he can do that... I'm sure the Pope is a great guy. I haven't met him but I disagree with the pope, if the pope would allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon," he stated.
This comment further emphasized Trump's insistence on a position the Pope has never taken. The pontiff's actual stance focuses on diplomacy and nuclear disarmament, not granting any nation permission to develop nuclear weapons.
Analysis of the Situation
The exchange highlights several key points:
- False Narrative: Trump continues to propagate a claim about the Pope's position that has no basis in reality.
- Diplomatic Tension: The disagreement represents a significant rift between the U.S. political figure and the Vatican leadership.
- Nuclear Policy: The core issue revolves around differing approaches to Iran's nuclear program and international diplomacy.
As the situation develops, observers note that Trump's comments come amid his ongoing political campaign activities and reflect his characteristic approach to foreign policy disagreements. The White House has not provided additional clarification on the matter beyond Trump's remarks to reporters.
