Why Trump’s clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for the US president

NewsWorldAmericasUS politicsWhy Trump’s clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for the US presidentIt is a clash rooted in fundamentally different moral and political visionsMassimo D'Angelo The Conversation Thursday 16 April 2026 21:49 BSTBookmarkBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popover{"translations":{"comments":"Go to comments","share":"Share","copyLink":"Copy link","bookmark":"Bookmark","removeBookmark":"Remove bookmark"},"showComments":false,"showBookmark":true,"articleId":"b2959349","articleMeta":{"url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-pope-leo-fued-iran-war-confrontation-b2959349.html","title":"Why Trump’s clash with Pope Leo could prove dangerous for the president"}}CloseTrump claims Pope said Iran can have a nuclear weaponSign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailGet our free Inside Washington emailEmail*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice{"className":"sc-1ge0fwe-0","newsletterData":{"regSourceNewsletter":"IND_INSIDE_WASHINGTON","regTitle":"Inside Washington","subscriptionGroup":"inside_washington","subscriptionGroupId":"af764e04-87eb-45e6-a84b-a7455ba70a1e","type":"inside_washington","pathPrefix":"/news/world/americas/us-politics","associatedAuthors":["Eric Garcia","John Bowden"],"title":"Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox","mobileTitle":"Get our free Inside Washington email","imageSrc":"https://static.independent.co.uk/static-assets/images/newsletters/insideWashington1_1.png","label":"I would like to receive morning headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email","newsletterKey":"receiveInsideWashingtonNews","regSourceSection":"US politics","regSourceMethod":"NSCs"},"isClimate":false}“I am not a politician; I speak of the Gospel.” Pope Leo XIV’s recent r...