US President Donald Trump addressed reporters on Sunday evening, discussing the state of the truce with Iran ahead of the planned blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, UNN reports, citing CNN.
About the truce
A temporary two-week truce between the US and Iran is "holding up well" after failed talks in Pakistan over the weekend, the US president said.
"Their army is destroyed. Their entire navy is underwater," he added, speaking of Iran.
About Pope Leo
Trump sharply criticized Pope Leo XIV, condemning his stance on the war with Iran.
"We don't like a Pope who will say that having nuclear weapons is okay... He's a person who doesn't think we should be playing with a country that wants to have nuclear weapons to blow up the world," he told reporters.
Also on Truth Social, Trump stated: "Pope Leo is weak on crime and terrible on foreign policy. (...) I like his brother Louis much more than him, because Louis is just MAGA. He understands, and Leo doesn't! I don't want a Pope who thinks it's okay for Iran to have nuclear weapons. I don't want a Pope who thinks it's terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a country that sent huge amounts of drugs to the United States and, even worse, emptied their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and hitmen, into our country. And I don't want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I am doing exactly what I was elected to do, in a landslide, setting record low crime rates and creating the greatest stock market in history."
"Leo should be grateful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise. He was not on any list for Pope, and the Church put him there only because he was American, and they thought it would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I weren't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican. Unfortunately, "Leo's weakness on crime, weakness on nuclear weapons" doesn't suit me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama supporters (...). Leo should get his act together as Pope, use common sense, stop pleasing the radical left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a politician. This is very damaging to him and, more importantly, it is damaging to the Catholic Church!" Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Leo has increasingly spoken out about the war, last week condemning Trump's rhetoric and threats against the people of Iran as "completely unacceptable."
Pope Leo XIV criticized Trump and the "deceptive omnipotence" fueling war12.04.26, 05:16
About the American pilots rescued from the downed F-15
"They are in very good condition, and we are very proud of them," Trump said.
The pilots were rescued after their F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down on April 3. The pilot was found quickly, and the other crew member was rescued after spending more than a day hiding in Iran.