Trump addresses feud with Pope Leo as he's caught out 'lying' about Catholic leader

United States President Donald Trump has denied that he has been 'fighting' with Pope Leo XIV.

Speaking to reporters earlier this week on Thursday (16 April) outside of the White House, Trump maintained that his several attacks against the Chicago-born leader of the Catholic Church were simply down to a disagreement over the subject of Iran and its nuclear weapon programme.

During the exchange, Trump claimed that Leo had approved Iran's right to have a nuclear weapon.

"I'm not fighting with him," Trump declared, stating he has 'nothing against the pope'."

He then said: "The pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon."

US President Donald Trump has claimed he is 'not fighting' with leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Leo XIV (Tasos Katopodis / Stringer / Getty Images)

The off-screen reporter was quick to call out Trump's unfounded claim, telling the world leader: "He didn't say that."

Leo has consistently opposed Iran having nuclear weapons.

In a video released last month (5 March), he called for countries to abandon them, saying he prayed that 'nations renounce weapons and choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy' so 'the nuclear threat' would 'never again dictate the future of humanity'.

The footage has since made its rounds across social media, with people rushing in to share their reactions to the exchange.

One X user hit out: "The pope said no one should have nuclear weapons. This nonstop lying is exhausting."

"Live fact-check happening in real time and he just kept going," penned a second as a third chimed in: "We need more reporters to fact-check him live."

A fourth commented: "Imagine getting corrected before you even finish the lie."

"'He didn't say that' should be repeated. It's useless just moving on to a different question," urged another.

And a final X user added: "Glad some reporters are getting b*lls to call out the lies."

Tyla has reached out to the White House for comment.

Chicago native Pope Leo Leo has consistently opposed Iran having nuclear weapons (ALBERTO PIZZOLI / Contributor / Getty Images)

What has Donald Trump said about Pope Leo?

Pope Leo found himself in Trump’s crosshairs earlier this week after he called out the president’s 'truly unacceptable' rhetoric towards Iran, including his warning that Iran’s 'whole civilization will die... never to be brought back again'.

Taking to Truth Social on Monday (13 April), the 79-year-old Republican claimed: "Pope Leo is WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy."

Trump continued: "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon."

He added: "And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do.

"Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump.

"If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me.

"Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church! President DONALD J. TRUMP."

What has Pope Leo said about Donald Trump?

Responding to Trump's scathing rant, Leo told Reuters he didn't 'want to get into a debate' with the president.

"I don't want to get into a debate with ⁠him," he told the outlet. "I don't ​think that the message of the Gospel is meant to be abused ​in the way that some people are doing."

"I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the ​states to look for just solutions to problems," he continued.

"Too many people are suffering in the world today," said Leo. "Too many innocent ‌people ⁠are being killed. And I think someone has to stand up and say there's a better way.

"The message of the church, my message, the message of the Gospel: Blessed are the Peacemakers. I do ​not look at ​my role as ⁠being political, a politician."