(TJV NEWS) President Donald Trump is standing firm and refusing to apologize to Pope Leo XIV following a heated dispute over the ongoing Iran war, according to reporting from the New York Post, which covered the escalating tensions between the White House and the Vatican.

During remarks in Washington, Trump rejected calls for an apology and doubled down on his criticism of the pontiff, insisting that Pope Leo was “wrong” in his stance on the conflict. As reported by the New York Post, Trump argued that a nuclear-armed Iran would be catastrophic and defended his position as necessary to prevent mass casualties. The Post noted that the president flatly said there was “nothing to apologize for” and maintained that his criticism of the pope was justified.

The New York Post also reported that Trump dismissed backlash surrounding a now-deleted AI-generated image posted on Truth Social, which depicted him in a Christ-like role healing a man. The image sparked accusations of blasphemy and drew criticism from both religious figures and political commentators before it was removed. According to the Post, Trump downplayed the controversy, claiming the image was misunderstood and was meant to portray him in a humanitarian or medical context rather than a religious one.

The clash comes amid broader tensions between Trump and Pope Leo XIV over U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. The New York Post has reported that the pope has repeatedly criticized the war in Iran and urged diplomatic solutions, while Trump has accused him of being “weak” on crime and foreign policy issues.

Despite mounting criticism from religious leaders and political opponents, Trump has continued to defend both his handling of the Iran conflict and his social media activity. The Post reported that he has shown no sign of backing down, instead reinforcing his position that his policies are aimed at preventing escalation and protecting U.S. interests.

The Vatican has not directly responded to Trump’s latest remarks, though Pope Leo has previously called for restraint, dialogue, and an end to escalating military action in the region, according to coverage cited by the New York Post.