U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, accusing her of lacking support for U.S. efforts against Iran. In an interview with Corriere della Sera, Trump called Meloni "unacceptable" and expressed shock at her stance, marking a sharp shift from his previous praise of her leadership. The dispute escalated after Meloni condemned Trump’s remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, which she described as "unacceptable."
Trump also reiterated his criticism of Pope Leo XIV, calling the pontiff "WEAK on Crime" and "terrible for Foreign Policy" in a Truth Social post. The pope had previously condemned the "madness of war" and criticized Trump’s threat to annihilate Iranian civilization. Meloni expressed solidarity with the pope, stating that religious leaders should not be pressured by political leaders.
The rift comes as Italy suspended a defense cooperation agreement with Israel and denied U.S. planes permission to land at a Sicilian air base. Trump accused Meloni of not caring about Iran’s nuclear ambitions, while Meloni defended her positions as necessary for Italy’s interests. The White House and Meloni’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In a separate development, Archbishop Thomas Wenski of Miami defended Pope Leo XIV’s right to speak out on moral issues, including war and peace. Wenski emphasized that religious leaders should be political but not partisan, citing historical examples of popes opposing wars. The Vatican and Trump administration have been engaged in tensions over the Iran war, with reports of a hostile meeting between Pentagon and Vatican officials earlier this year.