Trump calls out Pope Leo XIV for meeting with ‘useless’ Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Saturday, May 30, slammed Pope Leo XIV, writing that the Vatican should have warned the pontiff not to waste time with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson because the politician is “useless.”
Trump also used his message to double down on his view that the American-born Pope is completely wrong about the ongoing war in Iran.
Trump criticizes Pope for meeting Chicago Mayor
Trump took to 'Truth Social,' to criticize the meeting, he said, "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!”
His post featured pictures that Johnson had shared on X from his visit to the Vatican on Friday.
The images showed Johnson gifting a small Chicago flag to Pope Leo and both men smiling with a Chicago Cubs hat.
TRUMP ATTACKS POPE: ‘Explain to Pope… Mayor of Chicago useless, and Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!’ pic.twitter.com/Tozg1OloIt
— RT (@RT_com) May 30, 2026
The gesture stood out because the Pope was born in Chicago in 1955 and actually roots for the rival Chicago White Sox.
Even though Trump criticized the meeting, the mayor stated that it was “one of the most awe-inspiring and humbling experiences of my life.”
It was an honor to share time with a magnificent human, His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, yesterday. pic.twitter.com/ylalqZUeSb
— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) May 29, 2026
Trump's previous criticism of the pontiff
This comes just a month after their major public feud. In April, Trump heavily criticized the pontiff for criticizing his choices on the Iran war, crime, and COVID-19.
Trump stated the Pope had “terrible” views on foreign policy and called him “weak” on crime and nuclear weapons.
He even took credit for the Chicago native becoming the first American Pope last year.
“I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History,” Trump stated, adding, “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise.”
Previous clashes over Iran war and border policies
Trump also declared that he did not “want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon.”
That message came after Pope Leo condemned Trump’s threat to destroy a “whole civilization” in Iran if its leaders refused to sign a deal, calling the threat “truly unacceptable.”
The Pope opposed the war three days later, stating that “God does not bless any conflict.”
The year before, the Pope also attacked the administration's “extremely disrespectful” treatment of illegal immigrants.
While their relationship had calmed down recently, Trump’s new post could easily start another feud.
