Trump Clashes with Pope Leo Over Iran Policy

President refuses to back down from ongoing feud with Catholic leader

Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:28am

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A solitary figure, either the President or the Pope, sits alone in a dimly lit room or public space, bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, creating a contemplative and melancholic mood.The clash between the President and the Pope casts a long, somber shadow over the political landscape.Washington Today

President Trump has emphatically refused to back down from his ongoing war of words with Pope Leo XIV over the Iran war, warning the pontiff to stay out of politics. Trump accused Leo of being 'wrong on the issues' and said he doesn't think the Pope 'should be getting into politics.' The president also explained why he deleted an AI-generated image that appeared to depict him as Jesus, saying it caused confusion. Meanwhile, Leo said he's not afraid of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace and dialogue.

Why it matters

The feud between Trump and Pope Leo highlights the ongoing tensions between the US administration and the Catholic Church over foreign policy issues like the Iran nuclear deal. As the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics, Pope Leo's criticism of Trump's policies carries significant moral and political weight, leading to a high-profile clash between the two influential figures.

The details

In an interview with CBS, Trump said he doesn't think Pope Leo 'should be getting into politics' and accused him of being 'wrong on the issues,' particularly regarding Iran. The president said he has no plans to call the Pope to try to resolve the ongoing spat. Trump also explained that he deleted an AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus because it caused confusion. Meanwhile, Pope Leo said he's not afraid of the Trump administration and will continue to speak out strongly against war and promote peace and dialogue.

  • On April 14, 2026, President Trump made the comments criticizing Pope Leo in the CBS interview.

The players

President Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States who has been engaged in an ongoing feud with Pope Leo XIV over foreign policy issues like the Iran nuclear deal.

Pope Leo XIV

The current leader of the Catholic Church, previously known as Robert Francis Prevost, who has amplified criticism of the Trump administration's policies and called for peace and dialogue over conflict.

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What they’re saying

“I don't think he (Leo) should be getting into politics. I think he's probably learned that from this.”

— President Donald Trump

“I'm not afraid of the Trump administration or of speaking out loudly about the message of the Gospel, which is what the Church works for. I will continue to speak out strongly against war, seeking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateralism among states to find solutions to problems.”

— Pope Leo XIV

What’s next

It remains to be seen if President Trump and Pope Leo will attempt to resolve their differences through diplomatic channels or if the feud will continue to escalate in the coming months.

The takeaway

The clash between Trump and Pope Leo underscores the deep divisions between the US administration and the Catholic Church over foreign policy, with the Pope's moral authority posing a challenge to the president's hardline approach on issues like Iran. The ongoing dispute highlights the broader tensions between political and religious leaders on the global stage.