While speaking to the press on the White House lawn on Thursday, President Trump was asked about a statement issued by a group of bishops in response to his recent back-and-forth with the Pope.
“There was a group of bishops that did put out a statement saying the Pope isn’t merely exercising his opinion, he’s preaching the Gospel. What do you say to people who do this on behalf of the Catholic Church?” one reporter asked Trump.
“I want him to preach the Gospel,” Trump said. “I’m all about the Gospel. But I also know that you cannot let a certain country, which is a very mean-spirited country, have a nuclear weapon. If they did, they would use it.”
Trump continued: “And I think they use it quickly and they would kill many millions of people.”
“The Pope could disagree with me on that, but certainly we’re allowed to have that. I’m all about the Gospel. I’m about it as much as anybody can be. But I can’t allow, as President of the United States of America, for Iran to have a nuclear weapon. And here’s the story: they won’t have. They’ve already agreed not to have (one). That’s good news. And I think the Pope will be very happy.”
Watch the clip below:
REPORTER: "There was a group of bishops that did put out a statement saying the Pope isn't merely exercising his opinion, he's preaching the Gospel. What do you say to people that do this?"
PRESIDENT TRUMP: "I want him to preach the Gospel. I'm all about the Gospel. But I also… pic.twitter.com/e8dNGBtIKP
— Fox News (@FoxNews) April 16, 2026
