Trump Expresses Shock and Disappointment in Former Ally Meloni Over Her Defense of Pope Leo XIV

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump voiced sharp disappointment in Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, once one of his closest European partners, declaring he is “shocked” by her stance and that “I thought she was brave, but I was wrong.”

The friction surfaced after Trump criticized Pope Leo XIV’s calls for peace in the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran. In a Truth Social post, Trump described the first American-born pontiff as “WEAK on Crime, and terrible for Foreign Policy,” calling him a “very liberal person” and stating, “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” He added that the Pope “doesn’t understand and shouldn’t be talking about war, because he has no idea what’s going on.”

Meloni responded Monday with a rare public rebuke, calling Trump’s remarks “unacceptable.” She stated: “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church, and it is right and normal that he calls for peace and condemns every form of war.”

In a Tuesday interview with Corriere della Sera, Trump pushed back, accusing Meloni of failing to support U.S. efforts to secure oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran tensions. “Do Italians like the fact that your prime minister isn’t giving us any help to get oil?” he asked. He further charged that Meloni “doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if she had the chance,” adding, “It’s her who’s unacceptable.”

Trump noted the two have not spoken “in a long time,” despite multiple meetings last year, including at the White House. The exchange underscores growing frustration with some European allies’ reluctance to back stronger measures against Iran, even as Italy, a NATO founding member, has not provided additional naval support Trump has requested.

For American families relying on firm leadership to protect U.S. interests and energy security abroad, the rift serves as a reminder of the challenges in maintaining reliable partnerships on the world stage.