Trump takes shot at pope as pontiff meets with his hometown mayor

President Donald Trump took to Truth Social over the weekend to attack Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson while Johnson was at the Vatican meeting with Pope Leo XIV, calling the Democratic mayor "useless" and urging someone to inform the pontiff of that fact.

"Someone should explain to the Pope that the Mayor of Chicago is useless, and that Iran cannot have a Nuclear Weapon!" Trump wrote, signing the post with his full name and title: "President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Johnson had shared photos of the meeting on X, describing it as "one of the most awe-inspiring and humbling experiences of my life." He called Pope Leo XIV "a magnificent human" and said he was honored to share time with him.

Trump's post drew attention not only for its attack on a sitting mayor's audience with the head of the Catholic Church, but also for the jarring pivot to Iran nuclear policy in the same sentence, a rhetorical non sequitur that nonetheless reflects two of the administration's persistent preoccupations.

The post comes as Trump has frequently used Truth Social to target Democratic mayors of major cities, framing urban governance failures as emblematic of broader Democratic dysfunction. Johnson, for his part, has been an outspoken critic of the administration's immigration policies and federal funding cuts to cities.

The Vatican meeting appeared to be part of a broader multi-faith prayer gathering, according to Johnson's office. Trump was not among those in attendance.