Fact check: Trump falsely claims Pope Leo said Iran can have a nuclear weapon

Key Points:

• President Donald Trump falsely claimed that Pope Leo XIV said Iran can have a nuclear weapon, a statement immediately corrected by CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins, as the pope has consistently denounced nuclear weapons.
• Pope Leo XIV, elected in May 2025, has repeatedly called for nuclear disarmament and peace, urging countries to abandon nuclear weapons and advocating for diplomacy to prevent conflicts, including the war involving Iran.
• The pope has condemned war and the use of powerful weapons, emphasizing the moral imperative to reduce and eliminate nuclear arms, and has urged world leaders to pursue dialogue and disarmament.
• Trump’s accusations escalated from suggesting the pope "thinks" or "is going to say" Iran can have nuclear weapons to falsely claiming the pope actually said it, despite no evidence supporting this claim.
• Vatican officials and Pope Leo's statements highlight a consistent anti-nuclear weapons stance, contrasting sharply with Trump’s misrepresentation of the pope’s position on Iran’s nuclear capabilities.