Americast: Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV Clash Over Iran

April 13, 2026 — A 28-minute episode of Americast delves into the escalating disagreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV, sparked by the pontiff’s critique of America’s military involvement in Iran. The controversy has drawn sharp reactions from Trump, who accused the pope of being “weak” in combating crime and “terrible” at managing international relations. He also posted a self-portrait as Jesus, a move that has since been deleted from social media platforms.

Hosts

Joining Matt Chorley in this discussion are Sarah Smith, the North America Editor; Anthony Zurcher, the North America Correspondent; Marianna Spring, the Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent; and the episode’s technical producer, Gareth Jones. The series producer is Purvee Pattni, with senior news editing by Sam Bonham.

Other Topics Covered

The episode also examines a range of additional issues, including Melania Trump’s unexpected remarks on Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal past, the Trump administration’s concerns over Viktor Orban’s removal from power in Hungary, and the legal justification for a U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Further, it explores Trump’s recent outburst directed at prominent MAGA figures within his own movement.

Listeners can connect with the show through Discord, WhatsApp, or email, or by using the hashtag #Americast. For those interested in more in-depth analysis, Anthony Zurcher’s BBC newsletter offers insights into the U.S. election landscape.

To stay updated with each new episode, consider subscribing on BBC Sounds by tapping the subscribe button in the app. The show is now accessible via smart speakers by saying, “Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast.”

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts network, alongside other series like Newscast, Radical, The Global Story, and Top Comment. For more information, visit the links provided below.

Production Credits

This episode was produced by Alix Pickles and Purvee Pattni. Additional resources include the team’s work on other podcasts, such as Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl, Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r, The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd, and Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm.

“Weak” on crime and “terrible” at foreign policy