Donald Trump launches extraordinary attack on Pope Leo calling him ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’
In unprecedented attack on the leader of the Catholic church, president says the US-born pope is ‘not doing a very good job’ and is ‘a very liberal person’ President Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against Pope Leo XIV on Sunday night, saying he didn’t think the US-born leader of the Catholic church is “doing a very good job” and that “he’s a very liberal person,” while also suggesting the pontiff should “stop catering to the Radical Left.” Flying back to Washington from Florid
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Pope Leo said he did not fear the Trump administration and would continue to speak out against war after Donald Trump delivered an extraordinary broadside against him in which he said he did not think the Chicago-born pontiff was “doing a very good job”, while also suggesting he should “stop catering to the radical left”.
In remarks that have been widely criticised, the US president used a lengthy social media post to sharply criticise Leo while he flew from Florida to Washington on Sunday night, then continued in comments on the tarmac to reporters. “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo,” he said.
Coverage from 3 sources
- Donald Trump launches extraordinary attack on Pope Leo calling him ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’Guardian - World · Angela Giuffrida in Rome and agencies · Apr 13, 2026, 9:56 AM
- Trump calls Pope Leo ‘weak’ and ‘terrible’ in extraordinary broadsideGuardian - World · Angela Giuffrida in Rome · Apr 13, 2026, 12:08 PM
- I do not fear Trump, says Pope Leo after US president calls him ‘weak’Guardian - World · Angela Giuffrida in Rome · Apr 13, 2026, 11:41 PM
Coverage by lean
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