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Fact Check: Did Trump say 'I am ready to fight Pope Leo' in a Truth Social post?

A viral screenshot claimed Trump mocked Pope Leo XIV and challenged him to a fight as a UFC cage was built at the White House

BY SHANMUGAPRIYA MURUGESAN

PUBLISHED 1 HOUR AGO

A viral screenshot falsely claimed Donald Trump challenged Pope Leo XIV to a cage fight on Truth Social (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: A viral screenshot circulating on social media claimed President Donald Trump challenged Pope Leo XIV to a fight in a Truth Social post. The alleged message gained traction as crews built a UFC fighting cage on the White House South Lawn ahead of a June 14 event, prompting many users to question whether the post was authentic.

The purported screenshot spread across Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, with commenters debating whether Trump had actually shared the message. Let's fact check the claim.

Claim: Viral screenshot appeared to show Trump challenging Pope Leo XIV to a fight

While the origin of the rumor remains unclear, a Facebook user named Denmark shared a screenshot of what appeared to be a Truth Social post from Trump calling for a fight with Pope Leo XIV.

The post shown in the screenshot read: "I am ready to fight Pope Leo in a CAFE FIGHT too! He acts like he is BETTER THAN ME!! He ranks himself above God! When I am done with him, they will BOTH be beneath me!!!"

The purported Trump post circulated online as crews were constructing a UFC fighting cage on the South Lawn of the White House for a June 14 event marking Trump's 80th birthday. The claim also spread on Threads and Instagram.

The screenshot sparked speculation in the comments section. One commenter wrote, "I look forward to the day when we can have an adult in the White House again." Another wrote, "The frightening part is that the line between reality and satire is completely blurred." A third Facebook user commented, "The craziest part of this? I don’t know whether he actually posted it. Or not."

Fact Check: Trump did not share a Truth Social post about fighting Pope Leo XIV

The alleged screenshot did not show an authentic Truth Social post from Trump. Several pieces of evidence indicate that the image was fabricated and originally shared as satire.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace on February 19, 2026 in Washington, DC. Assembled to raise money for the rebuilding and stabilization of Gaza, Trump's Board of Peace was formally established on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in January of 2026. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) — Donald Trump spoke during the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace at the Donald J Trump Institute of Peace on February 19, 2026, in Washington, DC ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A search for "Trump Pope Leo fight" did not uncover any credible news reports about Trump challenging Pope Leo XIV to a fight. Likewise, searches for "Pope Leo fight" on Truth Social and on Trump's official Truth Social account returned no results. The purported post does not appear on Trump's account, nor can it be found in searches of Trump's archived Truth Social posts using keywords such as "fight" or "pope."

The earliest version of the screenshot appears to have originated from a Facebook page called "Denmark." The page is not affiliated with the government of Denmark and is categorized by Facebook as a "digital creator." Notably, the post included the hashtag "#satire," indicating that it was intended as a joke rather than a genuine social media post. The same hashtag also appeared when the screenshot was later shared on Instagram.

Pope Leo XIV leaves after presiding over Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on the Catholic feast of Palm Sunday, commemorating Jesus' arrival in Jerusalem, Sunday, March 29, 2026. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini) — Pope Leo XIV departed after presiding over Palm Sunday Mass in St Peter's Square at the Vatican on March 29, 2026 (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The Facebook page posted the satirical screenshot on the same day it shared other fabricated content, including a fake Trump post challenging former President Joe Biden to a fight and an AI-generated image depicting a damaged White House lawn with a UFC octagon at its center. All of those posts carried the "#satire" label.

The image also contained several visual inconsistencies. The font did not match the style typically used on Truth Social, and the screenshot lacked standard features commonly seen on the platform, such as timestamps and interaction buttons. Taken together, these details show that the screenshot was not an authentic Truth Social post from Trump and that the claim is false.