Spain’s deputy premier calls Trump’s comments about Pope Leo ‘historical, major mistake’

Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz has described comments made by US President Donald Trump about Pope Leo XIV as “a historical, major mistake.”

Speaking to foreign journalists in Madrid, Diaz said the remarks showed “disrespect” towards the leader of the Catholic Church and head of the Vatican City state.

“The Pope is a state leader and a religious leader who represents millions of believers,” she said. “It doesn’t matter whether one is religious or not; such comments are inappropriate.”

Trump on Sunday issued a social media post on his Truth Social platform in which he rebuked the pontiff for what he said is a "weak" record on combating crime and being "terrible" on foreign policy, further suggesting that Leo, the first American pope, was elected to satisfy the US president.

Diaz added that she respected Trump and the pope in their respective roles, but she questioned what would happen if similar comments were made about other world leaders.

“If I had said about another country’s leader what Trump said about the pope, who knows what would have happened?” she said.

On another note, Diaz recalled that she is among the Spanish ministers banned from entering Israel due to her anti-Israel statements, adding: “For me, more important than Israel banning me is the fact that the European Commission has done nothing to defend us, a minister of an EU member state.”

Similarly, the EU has not responded to Trump’s threats, she lamented. “Trump clearly stated what he would do to the EU before Christmas, but the European Commission still has not responded or taken the necessary steps.”

Diaz said that Spain’s government is prepared for Trump’s threat to cut off trade with Madrid, adding: “Spain is leading the world in the protection of democracy, human rights, and international law.”