President Donald Trump jabbed at Pope Leo over his criticisms of the war with Iran while speaking to reporters on Thursday, saying that the Catholic leader should be the one responding to the news that the Iranian regime was continuing to execute civilian protesters.
Trump, who has been publicly feuding with Pope Leo for some time over the war, was asked what he would say to Iran about reports that several protesters — one of whom is a woman — were set to be executed for opposing the regime. He pushed back on the reporter, arguing that Pope Leo should be the one to answer that question.
WATCH:
A pretty amazing response from President Trump to this reporter question:
REPORTER: Iran is going to execute four more protesters, including the first woman protester. What do you tell Iran?
TRUMP: Tell that to the Pope. pic.twitter.com/K3jTlaMVX0
— Andrew Kolvet (@AndrewKolvet) April 16, 2026
“Iran is going to execute four more protesters, including the first woman protester. What do you tell Iran?” the reporter asked.
“Well, tell that to the Pope,” Trump said, and as the reporters scrambled to ask more questions, he talked over them. “What did you say? Tell that to the Pope. Tell him that Iran is going to execute — did you just hear that Iran is going to execute four people including a woman?”
Pope Leo has repeatedly criticized the Trump administration, saying early on that Iran should be dealt with through diplomacy rather than military action. His critiques have grown more pointed with time, and he recently claimed that God would not “bless” any military conflict.
“God does not bless any conflict. Anyone who is a disciple of Christ, the Prince of Peace, is never on the side of those who once wielded the sword and today drop bombs. Military action will not create space for freedom or times of #Peace, which comes only from the patient promotion of coexistence and dialogue among peoples.”
Trump said Thursday he did not expect to meet with the Pope any time soon, adding, “It’s very important that the Pope understands … Iran killed 42,000 people that were totally unarmed, there were protesters, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
BREAKING: President Trump says he will NOT meet with Pope Leo amid their feud over the war in Iran.
TRUMP: “It’s very important that the Pope understands… Iran killed 42,000 people that were totally unarmed, there were protesters, Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
REPORTER:… pic.twitter.com/nFuaHleMYq
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 16, 2026
