Trump slams Pope Leo as 'weak'. Pope calls Truth Social 'ironic'

President Donald Trump lashed out at Pope Leo XIV on social media over the pontiff’s criticism of the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, calling him "weak" on crime and "terrible" for foreign policy.

“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Sunday, April 12. “Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician."

Hours later, the pope responded to Trump's comment, saying he was not "afraid" of the administration and said the name of the president's social media platform – Truth Social – was "ironic."

The president also said the pontiff, the first American-born pope, wouldn’t be in the Vatican if he were not in the White House.

"Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise," Trump wrote. "He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump."

The pope has been vocal about his opposition to the war for weeks. During a prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on April 11, he called out the "delusion of omnipotence that surrounds us and is becoming increasingly unpredictable and aggressive."

"Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war! True strength is shown in serving life," the pope continued.

The pope addressed Trump's comments hours later, speaking to reporters on a flight from Rome to Algeria.

"I have no fear of the Trump administration, or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do," he said. "I do not look at my role as being political, a politician. I don’t want to get into a debate with him. I don’t think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused in the way that some people are doing."

Asked for his thoughts on the president's Truth Social comments, the pontiff said: “It’s ironic – the name of the site itself. Say no more.”

Apart from the criticism of the war, a recent closed-door meeting the Chicago-born pontiff had with David Axelrod, a Democratic strategist and adviser to former President Barack Obama, appears to have irked Trump.

"Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left," Trump wrote.

In his message on Easter Sunday, the pope implored, “Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!”

Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy is a White House correspondent for USA TODAY. You can follow her on X @SwapnaVenugopal.