The Italian prime minister and longtime Trump ally expressed her first direct criticism of the US president since his re-election in 2024, as she tries to maintain the favor of her traditionally Catholic voter base.
Over the weekend, the American leader attacked Pope Leo XIV — who has become a strong moral critic of the U.S.-Israel war in Iran, condemning it as senseless and calling for peace. This led to a public escalation of months-long tensions between the White House and the pope.
“I think so “President Trump's comments about the Holy Father are unacceptable.” – Meloni emphasized in a statement issued on Monday. “The Pope is the head of the Catholic Church and it is right and proper that he calls for peace and condemns all forms of war.”
Trump's outburst has put Italian right-wing politicians under pressure to defend the pope, given that their voters favor both nationalist conservatism and a strong commitment to Catholic tradition.
Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the far-right League, Matteo Salvini – a long-time supporter of Trump – expressed himself particularly clearly on Monday. In an interview with the local TV station Telelombardia, he emphasized that “if there is anyone who works hard on the issue of peace and conflict resolution, it is Pope Leo.”
— Attacking the Pope, a symbol of peace and spiritual guide for billions of Catholics, it seems neither useful nor wise – he added.
A wave of criticism in the country
Meloni was initially more cautious, torn between loyalty to Trump on the global political stage and respect for a religious leader with moral authority among conservative voters with an eye on the 2027 elections. But she was forced to take a stand on Monday when public opinion pressure and criticism from the opposition intensified.
Five Star Movement president Giuseppe Conte condemned Trump's “unimaginable” attacks against the pope and criticized Meloni for refusing to take a clear stance despite her declared Christian identity, recalling her stance on the war with Iran as “neither condemning nor supporting.”
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Carlo Calenda, leader of the centrist opposition party Azione, called the prime minister's failure to defend the pope “embarrassing.” He said this revealed Meloni's political weakness and called the prime minister “subordinate to Trump”, while emphasizing that the relationship did not bring any benefits to Italy.
“The government has not yet understood that the pro-Russian, pro-Trump right wing has become toxic and is doomed to failure,” Calenda told POLITICO.
“There is no chance the government will emerge from this unscathed.”
For more than a decade, Trump has been the dominant force shaping the tone and direction of global right-wing politics. However, since the Iran war, its influence has become increasingly toxic.
Meloni's allies admit that relations with the US president and the war in Iran played a decisive role in the failure of her referendum on constitutional reforms last month. They also point out that Viktor Orban suffered a crushing defeat in Hungary despite support from the Trump administration.
In a speech to parliament last week, the Italian prime minister tried distance yourself from the American leader, listing instances in which she allegedly disagreed with him – from Greenland to tariffs to Iran. In practice, however, she often supported Trump's diplomatic initiatives and even nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize.
US President Donald Trump looks out the window of the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, April 13, 2026.Brendan SMIALOWSKI / POOL / AFP / AFP
Leo Goretti of the Italian Institute of International Affairs told POLITICO that The political costs for Meloni may be difficult to manage. — Meloni's strategy is part of the pattern of balancing between Trump and Italian public opinion, which is increasingly dissatisfied with the government's perceived closeness to the Trump administration, he noted.
Italy is already feeling the economic fallout from Trump's policies, and his attack on the pope — “a symbol of Italian culture and identity, untouchable to most Italians,” as Goretti put it — will only intensify criticism of its alliance with Washington.
— This is a very difficult moment for the government there's no way he'll get out of this unscathed in the eyes of public opinion, he said. And with the war in Iran making Meloni's balancing act much riskier, the Italian leader has finally been forced to draw the line.
However, this may turn out to be too small a step taken too late.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
