Top Stories; Trump voices frustration with NATO, says Iranian navy ‘destroyed’ as US preps for blockade
Top Stories — Monday, April 13, 2026
What is trending in the USA today? Here is Breaking News:
- Trump voices frustration with NATO, says Iranian navy ‘destroyed’ as US preps for blockade — Fox News
- Trump blasts Pope Leo for criticism of U.S. foreign policy — CNBC
- Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments — Fox News
Trump voices frustration with NATO, says Iranian navy ‘destroyed’ as US preps for blockade
Source: Fox News • Published: 4/13/2026, 7:48:22 AM
President Donald Trump addressed several pressing international conflicts after stepping off Air Force One in Maryland on Sunday, declaring that Iranian naval forces had been destroyed ahead of a planned energy blockade and expressing sharp disapproval of NATO for its perceived lack of support.
"Their military is destroyed," Trump said. "Their whole Navy is underwater. You know that 158 ships are gone. Their navy is gone. Most of their mine droppers are gone."
"At 10 tomorrow, we have a blockade going into effect," Trump added. "Other nations are working so that Iran will not be able to sell oil."
Trump further underscored the United States’ energy independence, asserting that international vessels are bypassing traditional routes in favor of purchasing American oil.
President Donald Trump speaks to the media after disembarking from Air Force One on April 12, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump returns to Washington after a weekend in Florida. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
"There are many boats heading toward our country to fill up with oil and then go and take it," he said.
The president then expressed sharp disapproval of NATO countries, indicating that America's financial commitment to support the alliance is going to be under "very serious" examination.
"But I'm very disappointed in NATO," he said. "They weren't there for us. We pay trillions of dollars for NATO, and they weren't there for us."
While NATO countries are now stepping up to assist the U.S., Trump described the effort as too late.
"Now they want to come up, but there's no real threat anymore," he said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates
Bonny Chu is a Digital Production Assistant at Fox News Digital.
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Trump blasts Pope Leo for criticism of U.S. foreign policy
Source: CNBC • Published: 4/13/2026, 7:38:52 AM
President Donald Trump on Sunday bashed Pope Leo XIV over the U.S.-born Roman Catholic pontiff's criticism of the U.S. war in Iran.
The president said he does not "want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do," in a Truth Social post.
Trump linked the pope's ascension to his return to office as president.
"Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise," Trump said. "He wasn't on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican."
Trump said Leo is "Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested," referring to a recent meeting between the pope and President Barack Obama's former political aide.
Leo, the first U.S.-born pope who hails from Chicago, has condemned Trump's war effort with Iran.
"Enough with the idolatry of self and money! Enough with the display of force! Enough with war! True strength is manifested in serving life," Leo said on Saturday, according to CBS News.
The pontiff also said it was "truly unacceptable" for Trump to make a recent threat that he would destroy "an entire civilization" in Iran.
Leo also used his Easter message to call for peace.
"Let those who have weapons lay them down! Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace! Not a peace imposed by force, but through dialogue! Not with the desire to dominate others, but to encounter them!" he said.
Leo and other church leaders have also at times been sharply critical of Trump's domestic immigration policies.
The pontiff endorsed a November message from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops who said they are "disturbed when we see among our people a climate of fear and anxiety around questions of profiling and immigration enforcement."
"We bishops advocate for a meaningful reform of our nation's immigration laws and procedures," the bishops wrote. "Human dignity and national security are not in conflict. Both are possible if people of good will work together."
Trump accuses Pope Leo of being 'terrible' on foreign policy over pontiff's anti-war comments
Source: Fox News • Published: 4/13/2026, 7:25:35 AM
President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy as the pontiff continues to criticize the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran and call for peace.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said Leo is "weak on crime" and "terrible" for foreign policy over his anti-war comments in recent weeks following the start of the war in the Middle East.
"He talks about 'fear' of the Trump Administration, but doesn’t mention the FEAR that the Catholic Church, and all other Christian Organizations, had during COVID when they were arresting priests, ministers, and everybody else, for holding Church Services, even when going outside, and being ten and even twenty feet apart," Trump wrote. "I like his brother Louis much better than I like him, because Louis is all MAGA. He gets it, and Leo doesn’t!"
President Donald Trump accused Pope Leo XIV of being "terrible" on foreign policy. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
"I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a Nuclear Weapon," he continued. "I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s terrible that America attacked Venezuela, a Country that was sending massive amounts of Drugs into the United States and, even worse, emptying their prisons, including murderers, drug dealers, and killers, into our Country. And I don’t want a Pope who criticizes the President of the United States because I’m doing exactly what I was elected, IN A LANDSLIDE, to do, setting Record Low Numbers in Crime, and creating the Greatest Stock Market in History."
The president went on to say that the pope "should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise."
"He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump," he wrote. "If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican."
"Unfortunately, Leo’s Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons, does not sit well with me, nor does the fact that he meets with Obama Sympathizers like David Axelrod, a LOSER from the Left, who is one of those who wanted churchgoers and clerics to be arrested. Leo should get his act together as Pope, use Common Sense, stop catering to the Radical Left, and focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician. It’s hurting him very badly and, more importantly, it’s hurting the Catholic Church!" he added.
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