President Donald Trump spoke about his feud with Pope Leo XIV, claiming Pope Leo apparently said Iran “can have a nuclear weapon.” CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins asked Trump why he is fighting against the pope.
To this, the president stated that he has “nothing against the pope,” but must do what is “right.” He further added, “I’m not fighting with him. The pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”
I asked President Trump why he’s fighting with the Pope.
Trump: “I have to do what’s right. The Pope has to understand that. Very simple, I have nothing against the Pope. His brother is MAGA all the way…”
So why are you fighting with him?
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 16, 2026
As reported by the Irish Star, Trump also said, “…I can disagree with the pope, I have a right to disagree with the pope.”
Collins on her X account fact-checked this, stating that the pope never said Iran can have nuclear weapons.
A CNN report also compiled together the many times the pope denounced nuclear weapons and asked for disarmament.
He also recently posted on X: “Let us #PrayTogether that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.”
ABC News also asked Trump to comment on statements by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. They said that the pope was not just making a political statement but also...
President Donald Trump spoke about his feud with Pope Leo XIV, claiming Pope Leo apparently said Iran “can have a nuclear weapon.” CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins asked Trump why he is fighting again...