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Trump has clashed with the Pope in recent days.
17:03, Wed, Apr 15, 2026 Updated: 17:17, Wed, Apr 15, 2026
Trump (Image: Getty)
House Speaker in the US, Mike Johnson, has backed Donald Trump in his feud with Pope Leo XIV, accusing the pontiff of "wading into politics."
Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Johnson said: "A religious leader can say anything they want, but obviously if you wade into political waters, you should expect some political response and I think the Pope has received some of that.
"Frankly I was taken a bit aback by him saying something about 'those who engage in war, Jesus doesn't hear their prayers' or something. There's something called the 'just war' doctrine.'"
Mr Trump has launched yet another stinging social media attack on the Pope last night, opening another chapter of his war of words with the head of the Catholic Church.
Italian PM Giorgia Meloni with US President Donald Trump. (Image: Getty)
Writing on Truth Social he said: “Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable. Thank you for your attention to this matter."
The ongoing feud also included the US president deleting an AI image that seemingly depicted himself as Jesus Christ. The image showed Mr Trump in a white robe with a glowing outstretched hand on the forehead of a man lying in a bed.
It was later taken down from the platform and Mr Trump claimed that he never intended to liken himself to the son of God. Asked about it, he said: "It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better."
Mr Trump also directed his fury towards NATO for its refusal to participate in offensive strikes against Iran. In a separate Truth Social post, he wrote: “NATO wasn’t there for us, and they won’t be there for us in the future!”
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The US president also seemed to be angered by the Italian PM's comments about the messages he sent to Pope Leo XIV. Giorgia Meloni, perceived to be a very close ally of Mr Trump, said: "I find President Trump's words about the Holy Father unacceptable. The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal for him to call for peace and condemn all forms of war."
Mr Trump, interviewed by Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, said: "I thought she had courage, I was wrong. It is she [Meloni] who is unacceptable, because she doesn't care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italia in two minutes if she had the chance. She is no longer the same person, and Italia will not be the same country," he also added.
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