Rubio Backs Trump’s Wild Claims About Pope Leo and Iran’s Nuke Dreams
Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, is strutting into the Vatican soon, but don’t get it twisted—this isn’t about mending fences with the Pope after Trump’s latest social media meltdown where he painted himself as a Christ-like figure while taking shots at Pope Leo XIV.
In a bizarre twist, Rubio seems to be on the same page as Trump, echoing the president’s unfounded claims that Pope Leo is somehow cheering on Iran’s nuclear ambitions as the U.S. war drags on into its ninth week under a shaky ceasefire.
When pressed about Trump’s incendiary assertion that the Pope’s calls for peace are putting Catholics in jeopardy, Rubio sidestepped the question, telling reporters at the White House that it’s “not an accurate description of what he said.”
“What the president basically said is that Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon because they would use it in places where there are a lot of Catholics and Christians,” Rubio clarified on Tuesday, trying to navigate the murky waters of this controversy.
“I think the president—without trying to speak for him—doesn’t get why anyone, including the Pope, would think it’s a good idea for Iran to ever have a nuclear weapon,” he added, attempting to distance himself from the chaos.
Trump didn’t hold back in his latest tirade against the Catholic leader, telling The Hugh Hewitt Show that the Pope “would rather talk about the fact that it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
“I don’t think that’s very good,” Trump declared during Sunday’s broadcast, clearly riled up. “He’s endangering a lot of Catholics and a lot of people, but I guess, if it’s up to the Pope,” he continued. “He thinks it's just fine for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Rubio’s trip to Rome and the Vatican from May 6-8 is officially about “discussing the situation in the Middle East and mutual interests in the Western Hemisphere,” according to the State Department. But let’s be real—this is all happening against the backdrop of Trump’s relentless attacks on the pontiff.
Despite Trump’s ongoing verbal assaults, the Pope has consistently called for peace and nonviolence while the U.S. continues its military operations against Iran. He recently appointed three U.S. bishops who have been vocal critics of Trump and his administration.
The Pope has labeled Trump’s threats to obliterate Iranian civilization as “unacceptable,” yet he has never endorsed Iran or any nation having nuclear weapons, despite Trump’s wild claims. “I have already spoken from the very first moment of being elected... I said, ‘Peace be with you,’” the pontiff stated Tuesday, emphasizing his mission to preach peace.
“The Church has spoken for years against all nuclear weapons, so there is no doubt there,” he told reporters outside Castel Gandolfo before heading back to Vatican City. “And so I simply hope to be listened to for the value of God’s words,” he concluded, leaving many wondering how this saga will unfold next.
