Reporters outside the White House pressed President Donald Trump for an answer as to why he’s currently beefing with Pope Leo XIV, asking him rather pointedly, “Why are you fighting with the pope?” As you might expect, the answer Trump gave was pure gold. The question was asked by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, who is known for being heavily critical of the president.
Over the course of the last several weeks, President Trump has repeatedly ripped into the head of the Catholic Church on his Truth Social account, after Pope Leo seemingly condemned the war in Iran and the threat Trump made about wiping out a “whole civilization” if Iranian leaders didn’t work toward making a deal with the United States.
“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,” the president wrote in one of his posts. “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise.”
According to Mediaite, a reporter challenged the president about his motivations for “fighting” with the pope and whether he was worried it was “upsetting” his “image” in a question Trump quickly cut off before it could be asked in full. “No, no, I have to do what’s right,” he went on to say. “The pope has to understand that, very simple.”
“I have nothing against the pope. His brother is MAGA all the way. I like his brother, Louis [Prevost],” he replied. That wasn’t good enough for Collins, who then asked Trump, “Why are you fighting with him?” The president responded, “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.”
“If the pope looked at the 42,000 people that were killed over the last 2-3 months as a protester with no weapons, no nothing. I mean, you take a look at that. So, I can disagree with the pope. I have the right to disagree with the pope,” Trump added. “Look, I have no disagreement with the fact, the pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree. I think Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
He continued, “If they do, the whole world would be in jeopardy. The Middle East will be blown up, and the whole world in jeopardy. We are very close to making a deal. That will be a great thing. The pope has to understand: Iran has killed more than 42,000 people over the last few months. Think of it, protesters without guns, without anything.”
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President Trump once again mentioned that the protesters slaughtered by the Iranian regime were unarmed. “hey were totally unarmed protestors. 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. Now I know the pope’s brother is a big MAGA person. He’s got MAGA all over his house.”
“His name is Louis. He’s a great guy. And 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, you can’t do that,” Trump explained. He was then asked for his thoughts about a statement released by a group of bishops that said the pope isn’t just giving his opinion, but preaching the gospel. Trump responded that the pope should continue to do so.
“I want him to preach the gospel, I’m all about the gospel,” he told reporters. “But I also know you cannot let a certain country, which is a very mean-spirited country, have a nuclear weapon. If they did, they would use it, and I think they’d use it quickly and they would kill many millions of people. So, the pope can disagree, but certainly we are allowed to have that.”
Trump then revealed that he believed the Trump would be very happy with the negotiations are going with Iran. “I want him to preach the gospel, I’m all about the gospel,” he said. “But I also know you cannot let a certain country, which is a very mean-spirited country, have a nuclear weapon. If they did, they would use it, and I think they’d use it quickly and they would kill many millions of people. So, the pope can disagree, but certainly we are allowed to have that.”