Trump Feuds with Pope, Threatens Iran Blockade

0:00It's April 13th. From your city to your ears, this is Anchorage News Today, powered by AI. President Donald Trump went off on the new Pope Leo XIV Sunday night on his Truth Social Platform. The first United States-born Pope, a 70-year-old Chicago native named Robert Prevost, had criticized the American Israeli war in Iran and the broader Middle East mess. Trump called him Week on Crime, accused him of backing Iran getting nukes, and even dragged in the Pope's brother Louis as a Maga supporter. Earlier this week, Trump ramped up complaints about the Pope not supporting his tough foreign policy or immigration crackdown. He claimed the Pope owes him for landing the Vatican gig, saying Leo was picked just to deal with him in the White House. Meanwhile, on a flight to Algeria Monday, the Pope told reporters he's fearless about preaching the gospel as a peacemaker, stressing the church stays out of politics. Reactions poured in quick. Then a minority leader Chuck Schumer slammed Trump's posts as a vicious low blow, especially

1:02mocking the Pope as soft on crime. Schumer also ripped an AI image Trump shared right after, showing himself like Jesus blessing someone with military angels and jets overhead. Later deleted it and said he was just a red cross doctor. Trump followed that with another wild AI pick of a skyscraper, with his name on the moon, also yanked Monday morning. This all hit hours before Vice President JD Vance's peace talks with Iran and Pakistan fell apart, scrapping a two-week ceasefire. Now with Iran choking the straight-of-for-move's oil route, Trump threatened the United States military blockade there. The feud highlights deep divides on war and faith as tensions simmer in the region.