WASHINGTON D.C April 16, 2026 — President Donald J. Trump has directly addressed Pope Leo XIV, stressing the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on its own citizens and warning that Iran can never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons.
In a video clip released today by the White House Rapid Response account (@RapidResponse47), President Trump spoke to reporters outside the White House, saying:
“It’s very important that the Pope understands… It is nice not to say this but Iran killed 42,000 people that were totally unarmed. They were protesters. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. If they did… every single country in the world would be in trouble… We are doing really well with respect to having to deal with the whole situation on Iran. The blockade is amazing. It’s holding up very strong, very powerfully. And I think we are making a lot of progress in that. But the Pope has to understand… Iran cannot have nuclear weapon. World would be in great danger.”
The remarks come amid heightened global tensions over Iran’s nuclear ambitions and reports of massive unrest inside the country, where security forces have been accused of violently suppressing widespread protests. The White House has repeatedly cited the high death toll among unarmed demonstrators as evidence of the regime’s ruthless nature.
President Trump has made clear that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability remains a top national security priority, arguing that such a weapon in the hands of the current regime would endanger the entire world — including Italy, where the Pope is based.
The statement was posted by the official White House Rapid Response team shortly after Trump’s comments, underscoring the administration’s firm “maximum pressure” policy toward Tehran.
The full 44-second video clip is available on X via the Rapid Response account.
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