Trump Criticizes Pope After Meeting with Chicago Mayor
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President Donald Trump expressed discontent over Pope Leo XIV's meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, criticizing the mayor's effectiveness and warning against Iran's nuclear ambitions.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to criticize Pope Leo XIV following the pontiff's meeting with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who recently visited the Vatican. Trump remarked, "Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!" Johnson, who brought a delegation to Rome, gifted the pope a diverse selection of items representing Chicago, including local sports team hats and a key to the city, along with items that seemed to send a political message, such as a hat reading "Immigrants Make America Greater."
The relationship between Johnson and Trump has been tense, particularly over immigration policies and Trump's criticisms of Johnson's lack of cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. In a recent post, Trump claimed, without evidence, that Johnson should be jailed for jeopardizing ICE officers’ safety. In response to ongoing political controversies, Johnson's city humorously named a snow plow "Abolish ICE" in a public competition.
Pope Leo XIV has previously addressed issues raised by Trump's administration, including immigration policy and the death penalty. Following a controversial announcement from the Justice Department regarding federal executions, Leo emphasized the sanctity of human life, stating, "The Catholic Church has consistently taught that each human life, from the moment of conception until natural death, is sacred and deserves to be protected." Johnson shared photos from his meeting with the pope on social media, expressing honor in spending time with him.