Trump Attacks Pope Leo XIV as Weak, Pope Vows to Speak Gospel Fearlessly

President Trump launched an unprecedented public attack on Pope Leo XIV, calling him weak on crime and terrible for foreign policy.

Trump falsely claimed credit for the pope's election, writing that if I wasn't in the White House, Leo wouldn't be in the Vatican.

41NBC News

The pope responded aboard the papal flight to Algeria, saying he had no fear of the Trump administration.

Archbishop Paul Coakley rebuked Trump's criticism, saying Pope Leo is not his rival; nor is the Pope a politician.

The rift has reverberated across American Catholicism, with conservative allies like Vice President JD Vance backing Trump.

The death toll diverged sharply among sources, with the government placing it at 28 and Al Jazeera counting at least 41.

Fire service chief Mahmud Iqbal said rescue crews found most of the victims near the stairwells on the third and fourth floors.

Al Jazeera

Witnesses told the BBC that the factory's main exit was locked when the fire broke out.

Police detained factory owner Faisal Rahman, with the police superintendent saying the exits were not usable.

The Bangladesh Garment Workers' Federation called a nationwide strike in response.

Rahman Textile produced clothing for several European fashion brands, including Hessen and BrandBox.

Both companies said they were deeply saddened and would review their Bangladesh operations.

Hessen's compliance team had audited the factory in March.

Rahman Textile owner Faisal Rahman claimed the factory had passed its most recent safety inspection in January.

The Dhaka Tribune reported that Rahman was being questioned about exits welded shut to prevent worker theft.