Pope Leão XIV Moves to Defuse Clash With Trump After 'Tyrants' Remark

Overview

• The pope told reporters on a flight to Angola that his 'tyrants' line was misread and not aimed at President Trump, which he said came from a text written weeks earlier.
• He said he is not afraid of the U.S. government and does not seek a political confrontation with the president.
• Trump answered on Truth Social with fresh attacks and an AI-made image that depicted him dressed as Jesus caring for a sick person.
• The image post was later removed after backlash, including criticism from some of the president's allies.
• The public dispute follows the pope’s late‑March criticism of the U.S. war in Iran and has drawn media comparisons to the early‑1800s Pius VII–Napoleon showdown.