The United States President Donald Trump told reporters late Sunday that he is “not a big fan” of Pope Leo XIV, calling him “weak on crime” and “terrible for foreign policy” after the global Catholic leader made a plea for peace.
“I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s a very liberal person, and he’s a man that doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
He accused the pontiff of “toying with a country that wants a nuclear weapon.”
On Saturday, the 70-year-old American pope publicly said, “Enough of the idolatry of self and money! Enough of the display of power! Enough of war!”, imploring leaders to end the violence, while addressing worshippers at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Trump reiterated his comments to reporters with a post on Truth Social saying, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
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Trump had previously made genocidal threats against Iran on Tuesday, saying “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again” — the pontiff slammed the “truly unacceptable” statement and urged parties to “come back to the table” for negotiations.
Following the threat, Trump, in another statement posted on his Truth Socials, disclosed that Iran is open to a negotiation, which will take place in Pakistan, announcing a temporary cease-fire.
Trump said the US had already achieved its military objectives and was close to reaching a “definitive agreement concerning long-term peace” with Iran.
Pope Leo welcomed the news of a ceasefire between the United States and Iran, describing it as a “sign of real hope.”
But peace talks between the United States and Iran, held in the Pakistani capital Islamabad, ended abruptly Saturday with US Vice President JD Vance telling reporters after a marathon session of talks that Washington has delivered its “final and best offer.”
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Vance revealed that Iran has refused to accept the United States anti-nuclear weapon deal after an exhausting 21-hour historic peace talks in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Following Iran’s refusal to halt its nuclear ambitions, Trump ordered a US naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the “unyielding” peace talks in Islamabad.
In a statement posted on his official Truth Social on Sunday, Trump acknowledged that the marathon negotiations in Pakistan had gone well, stressing that “most points were agreed to.”
Donald Trump, however, stated that talks with Tehran to halt its nuclear programme have not yielded a positive note, as the latter refuses to concede.
Trump said, “Effective immediately, the United States Navy, the Finest in the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING any and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz.
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“Any Iranian who fires at us, or at peaceful vessels, will be BLOWN TO HELL!”
