Arabic version: ترامب ينتقد البابا ليو الرابع عشر بسبب موقفه من السياسة الخارجية

United States President Donald Trump has unleashed a storm of criticism at Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy”. This unusual outburst came in a social media post on Sunday night, where Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the Pope’s comments regarding the US-Israel war on Iran. According to Al Jazeera, Trump’s remarks were triggered by Pope Leo’s recent appeal for world leaders to reject war and seek peace.

The Pope had issued a direct rebuke to Trump’s threats against Iran, describing them as “truly unacceptable”. In his comments, Leo condemned the ongoing violence and labeled the belief in military might as a “delusion of omnipotence.” This criticism seems to have struck a nerve with Trump, who took to Truth Social to voice his discontent, stating, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”

Trump’s comments also included a jab at the Pope’s leadership, suggesting that Leo should focus on his role as a spiritual leader rather than engage in political matters. He remarked, “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.”

Additionally, Trump claimed credit for Leo’s leadership in the Catholic Church, suggesting the Vatican picked the first US-born pontiff – elected last year – to curry favour with the White House. He asserted, “If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.” He also reiterated his disapproval of Leo, stating he is “not a big fan” and criticized the Pope’s perceived liberal stance.

Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to embark on an 11-day trip to Africa, which will begin with a historic visit to Algeria, a predominantly Muslim country. This trip follows the Pope’s calls for peace and diplomacy in global conflicts, highlighting a contrast with Trump’s more aggressive foreign policy rhetoric.