Marco Rubio Reveals Cringeworthy Message He Gave to Pope From Trump

Florida Senator Marco Rubio held a meeting with Pope Leo XIV in Rome on Friday, describing it as 'very positive' while addressing tensions between the Trump administration and the Vatican. Rubio conveyed to the pope concerns about Iran’s nuclear program and its alleged suppression of protesters, including a claim that Iran killed 42,000 unarmed demonstrators, as instructed by Donald Trump. Trump had previously revealed he directed Rubio to deliver the message, stating, 'Tell the pope very nicely, very respectfully, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.' The pope’s advocacy for global peace earlier this year had already strained relations, with reports suggesting the Pentagon threatened a Vatican ambassador after his anti-war remarks. The meeting concluded with an awkward gift exchange: the pope presented Rubio with an olive wood pen, calling it a 'plant of peace,' while Rubio gave the pope a small crystal football, acknowledging the pope’s known preference for baseball over football. A Vatican statement later described the talks as 'cordial' but noted differing perspectives on regional conflicts, humanitarian crises, and the urgency of promoting peace. The diplomatic exchange followed the Vatican’s rejection of a White House invitation for the pope to attend America’s 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4. Rubio’s visit highlighted ongoing friction between the Trump administration and the Vatican, particularly over foreign policy and moral stances on issues like war and nuclear proliferation.