President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday, May 6, 2026, calling the pontiff’s foreign policy views “dangerous” and suggesting he is “fine” with Iran acquiring nuclear weapons, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Rome for talks with Vatican officials aimed at easing tensions.
Trump’s latest broadside as Rubio seeks Vatican diplomacy
Trump’s latest criticism of Pope Leo XIV came as Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a three-day visit to Rome, where he will meet with Holy See leadership to discuss the war in Iran and broader U.S.-Vatican relations. Rubio’s trip, planned before the latest escalation in rhetoric between Trump and the pope, is now unfolding against a backdrop of unprecedented public friction between the world’s most powerful political and religious leaders.
The president’s remarks on Tuesday—delivered during a White House press conference—marked the sharpest language yet in a feud that began in April, when Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump’s warnings of an “entire civilization” being destroyed in Iran. Trump responded by calling the pope “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy,” while accusing him of catering to the “Radical Left.”
On Tuesday, Trump went further, telling reporters that he believed the pope’s views on foreign policy were “endangering Catholics and a lot of people.” He also suggested that Pope Leo XIV was “fine” with Iran having a nuclear weapon, a claim the Vatican has denied. Trump later defended his remarks, saying he had “a right to disagree” with the pope, though he acknowledged no personal animosity toward Leo XIV.
Pope Leo XIV pushes back amid rising tensions
Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff, has responded to Trump’s criticism with a mix of defiance and diplomatic engagement. In an interview with NPR on April 13, he said he did not fear Trump, emphasizing his commitment to speaking out against war and advocating for peace. “I am not here to please anyone,” the pope told reporters during a flight to Africa, where he was beginning an 11-day apostolic journey. “I am here to serve the truth and the people of God.”
The pope’s criticism of Trump’s policies extends beyond the Iran war. In November 2025, Leo XIV condemned the administration’s mass deportation efforts as “extremely disrespectful,” a stance that aligns with his predecessor’s views on immigration. The current feud, however, has centered on the pope’s public opposition to the escalating conflict in Iran, where Trump has warned of imminent catastrophe. Leo XIV has called Trump’s rhetoric “truly unacceptable,” framing his role as one of moral leadership rather than political alignment.
For more on this story, see Trump and Pope Leo XIV: The Breakdown of US-Vatican Relations.
Trump’s latest remarks suggest a hardening of his stance ahead of Rubio’s visit. While the State Department has not publicly addressed the president’s criticism, Rubio’s trip is widely seen as an attempt to stabilize relations between the White House and the Vatican. Rubio, a Catholic and former presidential candidate, has visited Italy and the Vatican multiple times, most recently in 2025 to discuss humanitarian aid in the Middle East.
What Rubio’s visit aims to achieve
According to the U.S. Department of State, Rubio’s May 6–8 trip to Rome includes meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, as well as Vatican officials. The focus of the discussions is expected to be the Iran war, where Meloni has publicly supported Pope Leo XIV’s calls for de-escalation. Rubio’s office has stated that the trip was planned before the latest dustup between Trump and the pope, but the timing now suggests an effort to mitigate further damage to U.S.-Vatican relations.
Meloni, a conservative ally of Trump, has faced her own tensions with the White House over her defense of the pope’s stance on Iran. Trump has criticized Meloni for what he calls her “weakness” in standing up to Iran, while Meloni has framed her position as one of pragmatic diplomacy. Rubio’s visit may serve as an opportunity to align U.S. and Italian approaches, though the president’s latest remarks could complicate those efforts.
This follows our earlier report, Trump Sparks Backlash After Posting AI Image of Himself as Jesus Christ.
For now, the Vatican has not publicly responded to Trump’s Tuesday comments. However, Leo XIV’s refusal to back down from his criticisms—despite the personal and political risks—has drawn comparisons to his predecessor, Pope Francis, who also faced sharp criticism from world leaders for his moral stance on global conflicts. The pope’s resilience may be tested further as the Iran war intensifies, but his willingness to engage with Rubio suggests a desire to keep diplomatic channels open.
Uncertainty ahead
The immediate question is whether Rubio’s visit can defuse the Trump-Leo XIV feud or whether the president’s latest remarks will further strain relations. Trump has shown no signs of backing down, and his willingness to publicly challenge the pope—especially on issues as sensitive as nuclear proliferation—could have long-term consequences for U.S. engagement with the Catholic Church.
For Leo XIV, the challenge is balancing his moral authority with the need to maintain dialogue with global leaders. His refusal to be silenced by Trump’s criticism has resonated with many Catholics, but it also risks isolating the Vatican at a time when its voice on peace and humanitarian issues is more critical than ever. Rubio’s ability to navigate these tensions will be closely watched, not only in Rome but in Washington, where the administration’s approach to the Iran war remains a contentious issue.
What is clear is that the Trump-Leo XIV feud is far from over. With Rubio’s visit still underway and the Iran war showing no signs of abating, the coming days will determine whether diplomacy can prevail—or whether the rift between the world’s most powerful political and religious leaders will deepen.
