Donald Trump has drawn sharp condemnation from Catholics and supporters alike after slating the Pope in a late-night outburst on Sunday and comparing himself to Jesus Christ.
The president branded Pope Leo “weak” on crime and “terrible” on foreign policy in a lengthy rant on social media, following weeks of cautious disagreement with the church over the war in the Middle East.
Catholics on social media quickly hit back at Trump for attacking the leader of their church, who they believe is the successor of St Peter, one of the 12 disciples.
As the leader of 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, and the first pope born in the U.S., Leo has become an influential critic of Trump’s conflict with Iran, and on Monday vowed to continue to “speak out loudly against war”, suggesting the Christian message was being “abused”.
Trump’s fiery rhetoric, as well as the AI image depicting himself as Jesus, attracted condemnation from Iran’s president, who pounced on the “insult” on social media.
“Your Excellency Pope Leo XIV, on behalf of the great nation of Iran, I condemn the insult to Your Excellency and declare that the desecration of Jesus (peace be upon him), the Prophet of peace and brotherhood, is unacceptable to any free person. I wish glory for you from Allah,” wrote Masoud Pezeshkian on X.
Donald Trump was meanwhile facing backlash from his own MAGA base for comments against the pope.
Massimo Faggioli, an Italian historian and expert on the Vatican, told Reuters that Trump’s latest outburst washed away any ambiguity around where things stand between the Trump administration and the Catholic church.
He compared Trump’s comments to the efforts of the leaders of Germany and Italy during World War II to draw the late Pope Pius XII to back their causes.
“Not even Hitler or Mussolini attacked the pope so directly and publicly,” said Faggioli.
Trump is now facing a MAGA firestorm among his own supporters as backlash over the late night post grows.
Former ally Marjorie Taylor Green described the president’s depiction as Christ as “more than blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist spirit”.
“On Orthodox Easter, President Trump attacked the Pope because the Pope is rightly against Trump’s war in Iran and then he posted this picture of himself as if he is replacing Jesus ... I completely denounce this and I’m praying against it!!!”
She noted it came just a week after the president threatened to kill an entire civilisation in Iran unless it agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Riley Gaines, a Christian conservative known for campaigning against the participation of trans women in women’s sports, shared the post of Trump portraying himself as Christ and said: “Why? Seriously, I cannot understand why he'd post this. Is he looking for a response? Does he actually think this?
“Either way, two things are true. 1) a little humility would serve him well 2) God shall not be mocked”
Robert Barron, bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, said the comments were “entirely inappropriate and disrespectful”.
“It is the Pope’s prerogative to articulate Catholic doctrine and the principles that govern the moral life,” he said, urging that “serious Catholics” within the Trump administration meet with Vatican officials “so that a real dialogue can take place”.
He name-checked U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance and US Ambassador to the Holy See Brian Burch.
Archbishop Paul S. Coakley, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said he was disheartened by Trump's latest comments.
“Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician. He is the Vicar of Christ who speaks from the truth of the Gospel and for the care of souls,” he said in a statement.
Trump had suggested in his post that Leo only became pope “because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump”. Leo was elected pope in May 2025, following the death of Pope Francis.
Speaking to reporters on the way back to Washington on Sunday, he added that he was “not a big fan” of Leo’s views, calling him “very liberal”.
“We don’t like a pope that’s going to say it’s okay to have a nuclear weapon,” he said, adding that he does not support any position that appears to be “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon so they can blow up the world”.
Leo had taken issue with the “atrocious” conflict in Iran, calling on Trump to find an off-ramp to end the war. He told faithful in an address on Palm Sunday that God rejected the prayers of leaders who start wars and have their “hands full of blood”.
He had previously called for “deep reflections” about the way migrants are being treated in the US.
Trump also had a rocky relationship with Leo's predecessor, Pope Francis, who criticised Trump's immigration policy proposals when he first ran for president and suggested Trump was “not a Christian”. Trump had called Francis “disgraceful” in early 2016.
Iran-US war live: Trump issues new threats as US blockade in Hormuz begins
Trump’s blockade threatens piracy and risks outright war against China
Emergency managers issue warning for residents in tornado-prone areas
How a visit by Pope Francis helped lead to the crushing defeat of Viktor Orban
Pope Leo responds after Trump savages him and poses as Jesus Christ: ‘No fear’
World’s oldest gorilla celebrates her birthday with a lavish feast
