Trump breaks with Meloni in dispute over the pope and the…

Trump breaks with Meloni in dispute over the pope and the war with Iran

16.04.2026 14:00 HotInfo

US President Donald Trump entered a sharp conflict with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Pope Leo XIV, deepening a crisis in transatlantic relations. The conflict began escalating months ago, but on Wednesday, April 16, Trump's closest European allies to date fundamentally disappointed his expectations. denik.cz ↗

The dispute escalated after Trump shared an AI-generated image on social media showing Jesus Christ embracing him. The Vatican and leading representatives of the Catholic Church criticized this move. Meloni subsequently publicly spoke out against Trump's statements, thereby expressing her support for the pope. The Italian prime minister once supported the American president, but given the need to retain Catholic voters in Italy, she distanced herself from him. sme.sk ↗

Trump responded to Meloni's criticism with sharp statements. The conflict between them reflects deeper political differences surrounding Trump's leadership of the nation and his more aggressive stance toward international conflicts. idnes.cz ↗

In the background, Trump's war with Iran, which began in late February, continues. American forces are intensively blockading Iranian ports, and Trump is demanding that NATO allies become more actively involved in the conflict. Oil prices on world markets are rising as a result of the American blockade. While Meloni expressed continued support for sanctions against Russia and financial support for Ukraine, her positions differ on the question of Iran. hnonline.sk ↗

The loss of another significant European ally thus underscores Trump's difficulties in building a consistent alliance system. denikn.cz ↗