← Back to news
April 24, 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Dismisses Pope's Criticism on Iran War
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth brushed off Pope Leo's criticism of the U.S. involvement in the Iran conflict during a Pentagon briefing.
- Hegseth emphasized the U.S. military's legal authority to conduct operations, despite the Pope's calls for peace and dialogue.
- Tensions have escalated between the Trump administration and the Vatican, with Trump openly criticizing the Pope and sharing controversial imagery.
- Vice President JD Vance also weighed in, cautioning the Pope against his theological critiques of war.
2 Sources
- Hegseth responds to Pope's criticism: 'We know what authority we have'Apr 24, 2026 at 1:26 PM · The Hill
- Pete Hegseth shrugs off Pope’s criticism of Trump and Iran war: ‘We know what authority we have’Apr 24, 2026 at 6:26 PM · Independent