By — Associated Press Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-trump-says-the-pope-has-to-understand-that-iran-cannot-have-a-nuclear-weapon Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Trump says the pope has to understand that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon Politics Apr 16, 2026 4:53 PM EDT President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has "to do what's right" as he pushes back against Pope Leo XIV on Iran war. Watch the clip in the video player above. "I have to do what's right — the pope has to understand that," Trump told reporters. "I have nothing against the pope. His brother is MAGA all the way." READ MORE: Fact-checking Trump's claim that Pope Leo supports nuclear weapons in Iran The U.S. president has maintained that the Iran war is about stopping that country from developing a nuclear weapon and he criticized that country's leadership for killing its own people as he objected to the papal emphasis on peace. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The president added that he's "sure the pope is a great guy," yet he suggested Pope Leo XIV was naive about geopolitics. "The pope has to understand that this is the real world," Trump said. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now By — Associated Press Associated Press
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he has "to do what's right" as he pushes back against Pope Leo XIV on Iran war. Watch the clip in the video player above. "I have to do what's right — the pope has to understand that," Trump told reporters. "I have nothing against the pope. His brother is MAGA all the way." READ MORE: Fact-checking Trump's claim that Pope Leo supports nuclear weapons in Iran The U.S. president has maintained that the Iran war is about stopping that country from developing a nuclear weapon and he criticized that country's leadership for killing its own people as he objected to the papal emphasis on peace. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. The president added that he's "sure the pope is a great guy," yet he suggested Pope Leo XIV was naive about geopolitics. "The pope has to understand that this is the real world," Trump said. A free press is a cornerstone of a healthy democracy. Support trusted journalism and civil dialogue. Donate now