politics
Trump breaks with Meloni after her criticism of his attacks on the pope
In a six minute phone interview with Corriere della Sera, Donald Trump called Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni "unacceptable" after she rebuked his attacks on Pope Leo XIV and urged Italy to do more on Iran, NATO and energy security.
Apr 14th 2026 · Italy
Insights
- Trump told Corriere della Sera he was surprised by Giorgia Meloni and called her "unacceptable" after she criticized his attacks on Pope Leo XIV.
- He accused Meloni of not wanting to help NATO or act against Iran's nuclear program.
- He said the pope should not speak about war and repeated his claim that Iran killed 42,000 protesters last month.
- Trump said he and Meloni have not spoken for a long time.
- He said he asked Italy to send minesweepers and other support but received no backing.
- He blamed immigration and European energy policies for weakening Italy and Europe and called NATO a "paper tiger".
Sources
- Vox defiende al Papa ante Trump: “Su misión no es la de someterse al escrutinio de ningún político” www.lavanguardia.com
- JD Vance defends Trump amid spat with Pope Leo: ‘Stick to matters of morality’ www.theguardian.com
- Trump rompe con Meloni por defender al Papa: "Pensaba que tenía valor, me equivoqué" www.diariodesevilla.es
- Trump turns on Meloni, says he is 'shocked' by Italian leader www.straitstimes.com
- Trump, tras defender Meloni al papa León XIV: "La inaceptable es ella, porque no le importa si Irán tiene un arma nuclear" www.20minutos.es
- Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni, says he is ‘shocked’ by her www.scmp.com
- Trump arremete contra Meloni por el Papa y su negativa a participar en la guerra: "Pensé que tenía coraje" www.deia.eus
- Trump arremete contra Meloni por el Papa y su negativa a participar en la guerra: "Pensé que tenía coraje" www.heraldo.es
- Meloni tacha de "inaceptables" las críticas a León XIV y Trump se sorprende: "Estoy impactado con ella" www.huffingtonpost.es
- Trump turns on Italy’s Meloni, ‘shocked’ by criticism, lack of courage www.straitstimes.com
- Trump se sorprèn per la reacció de Meloni als seus atacs al papa www.elpuntavui.cat
- Trump turns against ‘unacceptable’ Meloni www.politico.eu
- Trump arremete contra Meloni por el Papa y su negativa a participar en la guerra de Irán: "La inaceptable es ella" www.cope.es
- Trump calls Meloni a coward on Iran www.ft.com
- Trump lashes out at European ally Meloni amid tensions over Pope and NATO www.abc.net.au
- Pope Leo issues warning on democracy after Trump criticism www.thehindu.com
- Trump ataca Meloni, fins ara una de les seves grans aliades a Europa www.ara.cat
- Trump accuses ally Meloni of lacking courage for not joining attacks on Iran www.theguardian.com
- Meloni hits back at Trump over attacks on Pope Leo www.independent.co.uk
- Trump cuestiona a Meloni y al Papa: "Pensé que tenía coraje, pero me equivoqué" www.libertaddigital.com
- "Que el señor Trump le critique al Papa por cumplir con su función de discípulo de Cristo y de animar a la paz, es la prueba de que tiene razón" www.cope.es
- Trump dice estar sorprendido por las críticas de Meloni: "La inaceptable es ella" www.elconfidencial.com