Donald Trump has escalated his criticism of Pope Leo, accusing him of ignoring what he described as large-scale violence against protesters in Iran.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said it was “absolutely unacceptable” for Iran to possess nuclear weapons and urged the Pope to speak out more forcefully on the issue.
“Can someone tell the Pope that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, unarmed protesters in the past two months,” Trump wrote, adding that a nuclear-armed Iran would pose a global threat.
The figure cited by Trump has not been independently verified, and details surrounding the claim remain unclear.
The exchange follows earlier remarks in which Trump criticised the Pope’s stance on international conflicts, saying he “doesn’t understand war” and should avoid commenting on foreign policy matters.
The Pope responded earlier this week, saying he was not concerned by pressure from the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war and violence.
The public disagreement comes at a sensitive moment, as tensions remain high over Iran’s nuclear programme and broader regional instability.
Talks between the United States and Iran have faced repeated setbacks, with key disagreements over sanctions, uranium enrichment and regional security still unresolved.
The clash between Trump and the Pope reflects a wider divide between political and moral approaches to global conflicts, particularly in the Middle East.
While Trump has focused on deterrence and security threats, the Vatican has consistently emphasised diplomacy, restraint and humanitarian concerns.
Analysts say such public exchanges risk further complicating already fragile diplomatic efforts, especially as rhetoric around Iran continues to intensify.
For now, both figures appear unlikely to soften their positions, suggesting the dispute could continue as geopolitical tensions evolve.