'It's a nasty world!' Scrambling Trump tries to give Pope Leo a geopolitical lesson

President Donald Trump sought to lecture Pope Leo XIV about geopolitics after the pontiff criticized the U.S. war with Iran.

During a press gaggle on Thursday, Trump was asked about why he lashed out at the pope on Truth Social.

"I have to do what's right. The pope has to understand that. Very simple. I have nothing against the pope. His brother's MAGA all the way," the president said. "I'm not fighting with him. I made a statement. He says Iran can have a nuclear weapon. I say Iran can not have a nuclear weapon."

"So I can disagree with the pope. I have a right to disagree, to disagree with the pope," he continued. "I have no disagreement with the fact that the pope can say what he wants, and I want him to say what he wants, but I can disagree. I think that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they do, the whole world would be in jeopardy."

Trump noted that the pope had not opposed Iran's killing of thousands of protesters.

"The Pope has to understand that," he remarked. "This is the real world. It's a nasty world."

"But as far as the pope and saying what he wants, he can do that," the president added. "Now, I know the pope's brother; he is a big MAGA person. He's got MAGA all over his house. His name is Lewis. He's actually a great guy. And I'm sure the pope is a great guy. I haven't met him. But I disagree with the pope. If the pope would allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon, you can't do that."