Donald Trump and Pope Leo are far from friends. As late as Thursday, the Holy Father criticized the “tyrants” who spend billions on war, not naming Trump directly. Meanwhile, the President of the United States has issued a nuclear warning to Pope Leo, saying he refuses to meet with him.

Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV have been criticizing each other over the last week. Meanwhile, Vice President JD Vance has also joined the conversation and warned the Holy Father earlier this week of being too vocal on “matters of theology.”

President Donald Trump previously said that the pope was soft on crime, adding that he doesn’t like him. Meanwhile, at the moment, Pope Leo is in Africa on tour, and issued scathing criticism towards those “tyrants” who spend billions on war.

Earlier on Thursday, U.S bishops proclaimed their full support for Pope Leo. The American-born pontiff didn’t mention Donald Trump by name, but his speech on Cameron on Thursday was clearly aimed at those world leaders who invoke religion to justify violence against other nations.

“Woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth,” Leo said while speaking at the Saint Joseph Cathedral in the city of Bamenda, Cameroon, according to The Guardian.

Donald Trump issues nuclear warning to Pope Leo

“They turn a blind eye to the fact that billions of dollars are spent on killing and devastation, yet the resources needed for healing, education and restoration are nowhere to be found.”

Pope Leo added, “The world is being ravaged by a handful of tyrants, yet it is held together by a multitude of supportive brothers and sisters.”

Now, Donald Trump has blasted Pope Leo with new criticism, and it comes with a threat. Speaking with reporters outside the White House on Thursday, he said he would not be meeting with the Holy Father and issued a warning over Iran’s nuclear capabilities.

“It’s very important that the Pope understands… Iran killed 42,000 people that were totally unarmed. They were protesters. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they did… every single country in the world would be in trouble,” Trump said.

He added that he has “nothing against the pope” but that “I have to do what’s right.”

“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 continued,

Trump falsely claims Pope Leo said Iran can have a nuclear weapon

The claim made by Donald Trump that Pope Leo has said Iran can have nuclear weapons is not true. In fact, the Holy Father has repeatedly denounced nuclear weapons and made calls for the countries to abandon them.

In June last year, the pope said, “The situation in Iran and Israel has deteriorated gravely, and in such a delicate moment, I would like to renew strongly an appeal to responsibility and reason. The commitment to creating a safer world, free from the nuclear threat, should be pursued through respectful encounter and sincere dialogue, to build a lasting peace, based on justice, fraternity and the common good.”

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