strikeMay 31, 2026

'The Mayor Of Chicago Is Useless:' Trump Attacks Pope Leo And Brandon Johnson As Iran Dispute Escalates

Summary

On Saturday, President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Vatican, using the occasion to highlight his concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Trump-Pope Leo Feud Escalates Trump aimed both Pope Leo and Johnson in a post on Truth Social following the mayor's visit to Rome. "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!" Trump wrote. The president's remarks came after Johnson shared photos from his meeting with the pope, who was born in Chicago and became the first American to lead the Catholic Church. Images from the visit showed Johnson presenting Pope Leo with a miniature Chicago flag and the two posing with a Chicago Cubs hat. Diplomacy Urged Amid Trump-Pope Clash Earlier, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi called for extending the ceasefire and continuing negotiations after meeting with JD Vance, saying both U.S. leaders preferred to avoid war and urged diplomacy, even if it required "painful concessions." His comments followed Pope Leo’s call for peace, in which he said, "God does not bless any conflict," and stressed that lasting peace comes through dialogue and coexistence. Separately, Anthony Scaramucci criticized Trump over his remarks about Pope Leo, warning the situation could "get worse and worse." Trump had said the pope was "not doing a very good job" and accused him of being lenient on crime, adding he was "not a big fan" of the pontiff. Scaramucci called the exchange a "Trump exit interview" and urged moving on before tensions escalate further. Trump Delays Iran Deal Decision On Friday, President Trump left a White House Situation Room meeting without confirming approval of a proposed Iran ceasefire extension deal. He said he would make a "final determination" after the meeting and set conditions, including blocking Iran's nuclear weapon development and securing the Strait of Hormuz, while stating, "No money will be exchanged, until further notice." Photo courtesy: Shutterstock © 2026 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

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Snigdha GairolaBy Snigdha Gairola
On Saturday, President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff met with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson at the Vatican, using the occasion to highlight his concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Trump-Pope Leo Feud Escalates Trump aimed both Pope Leo …

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