Donald Trump has publicly criticised Pope Leo XIV, describing himself as “not a big fan” of the pontiff’s views on global conflicts and security issues.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, Trump said the pope was “a very liberal person” and accused him of taking a weak position on crime and foreign policy matters.

“I’m not a big fan of Pope Leo. He’s very liberal and doesn’t believe in stopping crime,” Trump said, adding that he disagreed with the pope’s stance regarding countries pursuing nuclear weapons.

The U.S. president later reiterated his remarks on his Truth Social platform, stating that he did not support a pope who appeared tolerant of Iran possessing nuclear capabilities.

Trump’s comments followed a recent appeal by Pope Leo during a service at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, where the pontiff urged world leaders to prioritise dialogue and end violence amid rising international tensions.

The pope’s message, which criticised the glorification of power and war, was widely interpreted as a call for restraint as tensions continue between the United States and Iran.

The exchange reflects growing differences between Washington and the Vatican on issues including military intervention and immigration policy, although both sides have avoided describing the situation as a formal diplomatic dispute.

Despite the criticism, Pope Leo has continued to call for negotiations and peaceful solutions to global conflicts, urging major powers to pursue restraint.

Trump’s remarks represent a rare direct public criticism of a sitting pope, highlighting widening disagreements between political and religious leaders over key international security issues.