On Thursday, President Donald Trump made headlines by declaring his willingness to travel to Pakistan to personally secure a peace agreement, even as he engaged in a heated exchange with the Vatican concerning foreign policy issues.
In a conversation with journalists at the White House, the President shared his hopeful outlook on the ongoing discussions in the region, indicating that he would consider a visit to Islamabad should a definitive agreement be established.
Trump stated, “I would go. Pakistan has been excellent. They’ve been very good. Islamabad… I might go, yes. If the deal is concluded in Islamabad, I might go.”
The President commended Pakistan’s leadership, both civilian and military, highlighting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir. He often refers to Munir by the honorary title of field marshal.
“Their field marshal has been remarkable,” Trump commented, noting, “the prime minister has been truly commendable.”
These diplomatic gestures toward South Asia were juxtaposed with his pointed criticism of Pope Leo XIV.
The friction between the White House and the Holy See has intensified recently, centered on his opposition to the administration’s hardline stance on Iran and his calls for a ceasefire in regional conflicts.
Responding to questions about the rift, Trump dismissed the idea of a personal conflict but doubled down on his policy disagreements.
President Donald Trump made news Thursday, saying he is prepared to visit Pakistan to personally finalize a peace agreement, while simultaneously escalating a verbal dispute with the Vatican over foreign policy
The president’s comments follow a series of public exchanges in which he has labeled the pope ‘weak on crime’ and criticized the Vatican’s stance on international security
Trump speaks to the media before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House. Trump is traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to promote the tax cuts he signed into law in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ ahead of the midterm election. Tomorrow he will deliver remarks at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona
‘I have to do what’s right. The Pope has to understand that. Very simple, I have nothing against the Pope. His brother is MAGA all the way,’ Trump said, referring to the pontiff’s brother, Louis. ‘I’m not fighting with him. The Pope made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon.’
The President’s comments follow a series of public exchanges in which he has labeled the pope ‘weak on crime’ and criticized the Vatican’s stance on international security.
Despite the tension, Trump maintained that his own actions are guided by religious principles, even as he suggested a meeting with the spiritual leader was unnecessary.
‘I’m all about the Gospel. I’m about it as much as anybody can be,’ Trump said. He concluded by noting that ‘Pope Leo can disagree with me’ regarding the threat of a nuclear–armed Iran.
The Vatican has not officially responded to the President’s latest remarks, though he said at the start of his tour in Africa this week that he does not wish to engage in a political debate with the administration and would continue to promote peace.
This week, however, the pontiff blasted leaders he said manipulate ‘the very name of God’ for their own gain.
‘Peace is not something we must invent: it is something we must embrace by accepting our neighbor as a brother and as our sister,’ the Pope said.
‘Leo should get his act together as Pope,’ Trump wrote in a Truth Social post earlier this week in response to his comments.
Trump is traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada to promote the tax cuts he signed into law in the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill Act’ ahead of the midterm election.
Tomorrow he will deliver remarks at a Turning Point USA event in Phoenix, Arizona.
