United States

Trump posts picture with Jesus and attacks Meloni again

The American president returns to criticise the Italian premier for her support of the Pope and questions the relationship between Washington and Rome

15 April 2026

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

US President Donald Trump is back on the attack against Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. "She was negative," Trump said in an interview with Fox News, "Whoever refused her help in handling the situation with Iran no longer has the same relationship with us."

Trump's latest attack

The American president has criticised harshly the words of the premier, who yesterday had spoken out against Trump's phrases on Pope Leo XIV. After the long-distance confrontation between the two leaders, today the tycoon questioned the relationship between Washington and Rome. "Just for your information," Trump said, "Italy receives large amounts of oil from the Strait [of Hormuz, ed].

Usa, Trump: "Mie parole su Papa? È Meloni che è inaccettabile"

The new post on Truth

Also today, the US president posted an image on his Truth page showing him hugging Jesus. "The crazy left-wing extremists might not like this, but I think it's pretty cool," Trump wrote in the post published earlier this afternoon.

Il post su Truth che ritrae Donald Trump insieme a Gesù

Tajani: 'Respect and loyalty are needed'

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also spoke on the issue. "I believe that it must always be taken into account that a relationship of alliance and friendship such as the one between Italia and the United States must be made of loyalty and respect," said the deputy prime minister in Berlin, responding to the Italian press on Trump's statements. "Which we have always done," he added.

La Russa: "Nothing irreconcilable between Meloni and Trump"

"Only those who do not know the relationship between Italia and the Pope and the Catholic Church can imagine that the Prime Minister would not react to an attack on the Pontiff". This is how Senate President Ignazio La Russa commented on the confrontation between the American president and the premier. "There is nothing irremediable because Meloni and the Italia government know very well that even in friendly relationsclarity is a must," he continued. "When there is to say 'I agree', no one like Meloni has been so clear in saying that, but no one like Meloni has been so clear when disagreeing in saying 'I disagree' with some of Trump's statements or choices," La Russa concluded.

The clash over the Pope

Tension has flared up after the discussion in the past few days between the leader of the White House and the Pontiff, guilty according to Trump of speaking out against the war in Iran. Meloni intervened, expressing solidarity with the Pope and calling the US president's words "unacceptable". "It is she who is unacceptable," Trump replied, "I am shocked at her, I thought she had courage but I was wrong.

Cei: "From Trump crude and despicable words against the Pope: does he promote peace this way?"

The CEI returns to the US President's attacks on the Pope. "First the words, crude and unusual; then the image, offensive and insulting. President Trump's unprecedented attack on Pope Leo XIV has made a negative mark in style and tone. What is most striking is the despicable use made of the communicative act. And this is where the paradox occurs: how can one think of promoting peace with a communication continually tending towards confrontation?" asks the Italian Bishops' Conference spokesman, Vincenzo Corrado. "The answer would be obvious. And in fact in the simplicity of what is reasonable and disarming, the difference of actions and postures emerges. On the one hand vehemence, on the other meekness. "I don't look at my role as a politician, I am not a politician, I don't want to get into a debate with him," the Pope told reporters on the flight to Algiers, the first stop of his third international trip. "I don't think the message of the Gospel should be abused as some are doing. I continue to speak out loudly against war, trying to promote peace'. Full stop! The matter is probably not yet closed, but a line has been drawn. And it lies precisely in the difference in communication - points out the director of the Social Communications Office of the Italian Bishops' Conference -. The spiritual dimension to which Leo XIV has been leading since his first words - "Peace be with you all!" - accepts no compromises or exceptions, it is radical because it is founded on the Gospel, which will always be a message of peace. It is worth never forgetting this".

The Pope: 'It is possible to live in peace, I continue to bear witness to it'

It is necessary to live in concord in "respect of all for all". The Pope said this when greeting journalists on board the plane that took him from Algiers to Yaoundé. "In two days in Algeria, I think we really had a wonderful opportunity to continue building bridges to promote dialogue. I think the visit to the mosque was significant to say that although we have different faiths, different lifestyles and different ways of worshipping God, we can still live together in peace," the Pope said.

"This is what the world needs to hear today, and together we can continue to offer our testimony," the Pontiff concluded.