President Trump again assails Pope Leo; Pontiff responds that criticism should be truthful

May 06, 2026

Renewing his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, President Donald Trump charged that the Pope “thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon”—leading Pope Leo to respond, “If someone criticizes me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

In a May 4 appearance on The Hugh Hewitt Show, President Trump and the radio talk show host had the following exchange:

• HH: You know, you’re going to China. Let’s talk about that, Mr. President.
• DT: Right.
• HH: You’ve had this back and forth with Pope Leo. I wish Pope Leo would talk about Jimmy Lai. You talk about Jimmy Lai with the Chairman. Will you be bringing him up again?
• DT: Hugh, I will. I brought him up, and there’s a lot of, there’s a little bitterness, I would say, with him and Jimmy Lai. You know, he was, Hong Kong was not as easy, but I will be, I will be bringing him up. Yeah, Hugh. I bring…
• HH: I want the Pope to talk about Jimmy Lai, and I want you to bring him home. That would be a good deal.
• DT: Well, the Pope would rather talk about the fact that it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, and I don’t think that’s very good. I think he’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people. But I guess if it’s up to the Pope, he thinks it’s just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
• HH: He’s from Chicago. He’s got to learn a few things. He’s from Chicago. Let me ask you about China ...

As he concluded his weekly visit Castel Gandolfo last evening, Pope Leo was asked about the president’s comments.

“The mission of the Church is to proclaim the Gospel, to preach peace,” the Pope said. “If someone wants to criticize me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully.”

“I simply hope to be listened to because of the value of the word of God,” the Pope continued, adding that he has spoken clearly “from the first moment I was elected, and now we are close to the anniversary. I said: ‘Peace be with you.’”

The Pontiff also expressed hope that his upcoming meeting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, scheduled for May 7, will be a “good dialogue,” with “trust and openness,” to “understand one another well.”

 

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Further information:

• President Donald Trump Returns To The Hugh Hewitt Show (The Hugh Hewitt Show, 5/4/26)
• Pope: ‘If someone criticizes me for proclaiming the Gospel, let him do so truthfully’ (Vatican News, 5/5/26)