By Our Reporter
U.S. President Donald Trump has described Pope Leo XIV as “weak on crime” and “very liberal,” stressing that he is “not a fan” of the pontiff’s leadership. Speaking to reporters, Trump criticized the pope’s stance on global issues, saying, “We don’t want a pope that says crime is ok in our cities,” and questioned his approach to foreign policy.
Trump also suggested that the pope’s emergence was influenced by the Church’s desire to engage with his administration, claiming Leo XIV was selected because an American pope would be better positioned to deal with him. His attack comes after the pope publicly criticized the U.S.-backed war involving Iran, urging peace and condemning threats and violence linked to the conflict. “Leo should get his act together as Pope… and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician,” Trump wrote in a post.
The remarks came shortly before Trump shared an AI-generated image on his Truth Social platform depicting himself as Jesus Christ, appearing to heal a patient in a hospital setting. The image included symbolic American elements such as the U.S. flag, bald eagles, the Statue of Liberty, and the Lincoln Memorial.
The post drew swift criticism, including from some of Trump’s own supporters, who viewed the comparison as inappropriate. The backlash highlights growing unease among allies over the president’s rhetoric and use of provocative imagery in political messaging.
With Additional Reports from YahooNews!