SOFREP Evening Brief: Trump Annoys 1.4 Billon Catholics by Posting Pic of Himself As Pope, Putin Says He Hopes He Won’t Have to Use Nukes in Ukraine, Mexico Rejects US Offer to Send Troops Across the Border

Donald Trump has stirred up a storm by sharing an AI-generated image of himself dressed as the pope. The photo, which he posted on Truth Social and was later shared by the White House’s official X account, shows Trump in full papal regalia, complete with white robes and a mitre, raising a finger as if giving a sermon.

The timing couldn’t have been worse—this happened just after Pope Francis’s funeral and during the Catholic Church’s official nine-day mourning period. It also came right before the conclave to choose the next pope. Many Catholics saw the image, along with Trump‘s past joke about wanting to “be pope,” as disrespectful and wildly inappropriate.

The backlash was swift. The New York State Catholic Conference called Trump out, saying there was nothing funny about mocking the Church during such a solemn time. Filipino Cardinal Pablo Virgilio David said bluntly, “Not funny, Sir.” Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, someone Trump has praised in the past, kept it simple: “Well, it wasn’t good.” Even a priest who was with Dolan at Mass dismissed the image as “silly” and said it crossed a line.

Some Republicans who don’t support Trump also criticized the post, calling it a clear insult to the Catholic faith.

The criticism wasn’t limited to the U.S. In Italy, where emotions were still raw after the pope’s passing, the reaction was harsh. Former Prime Minister Matteo Renzi slammed the image as disrespectful to both the Church and its followers. Italian newspapers piled on, calling Trump‘s post childish and even labeling it the act of a man with a “pathological” ego.

The Vatican itself didn’t officially respond, but the image reportedly came up during press briefings. Meanwhile, the White House defended Trump. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had traveled to Italy to attend Pope Francis’s funeral and claimed he has always supported Catholics and religious freedom.

Bottom line: Trump’s decision to post a fake image of himself as pope while the Church was mourning its leader offended a lot of people—Catholic leaders, laypeople, and politicians alike. It was seen as tone-deaf and inappropriate, and it’s yet another example of how Trump’s attempts at humor can backfire, especially when religion is involved.

Putin Hopes He Doesn’t Have to Nuke Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said he doesn’t think there’s a need to use nuclear weapons in the war against Ukraine—and he hopes it stays that way. In an interview preview shared on Russian state TV and Telegram, Putin made it clear that, for now, Russia has enough military power to finish the job using conventional weapons. He said flat out, “There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons… and I hope they will not be required.”

This comes after years of concern from the West that Russia might actually use nukes as the war drags on. Especially after Putin updated Russia’s nuclear doctrine last November, which made it easier for Moscow to justify a nuclear response—even if it’s just to a conventional attack that’s supported by a nuclear-armed country. That move had a lot of people worried.

But despite that shift in policy, Putin’s latest comments seem aimed at calming fears. He wants the world to know that, at least for now, he thinks Russia can meet its goals in Ukraine without going nuclear. Whether that’s a genuine signal of restraint or just more messaging from the Kremlin is anyone’s guess—but the statement is out there.

Mexico’s President Turns Down Offer of Using US Troops Across the Border

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum didn’t mince words when she shot down President Donald Trump’s idea of sending U.S. troops into Mexico to fight drug cartels. During a recent phone call between the two leaders, Trump pushed for more direct American military involvement to go after criminal groups operating south of the border. Sheinbaum firmly said no, telling Trump that while Mexico is open to working together, that cooperation ends at the border.

She was crystal clear: “Our territory is inalienable, sovereignty is inalienable.” In other words, the U.S. Army isn’t welcome on Mexican soil—no matter how serious the cartel problem might be. Sheinbaum made it known that Mexico will share information and collaborate with U.S. agencies, but any boots-on-the-ground involvement from America is completely off the table.

This exchange followed a Wall Street Journal report about a tense call between the two presidents. It also comes at a time when Trump is doubling down on his border security agenda, using the military to patrol the southern border and labeling certain cartels as terrorist groups.

But for Mexico, the idea of letting foreign troops operate inside the country hits a nerve. It reminds people of a long history of foreign intervention that still shapes national pride and policy. Sheinbaum’s message was direct: cooperation is welcome, but respect for Mexico’s sovereignty is non-negotiable.

UK Arrests Several Iranian Men in Terror Plot

British counterterrorism police just made a serious move, arresting eight men—seven of them Iranian nationals—in two separate investigations tied to suspected terror activity and threats to national security. In the first operation, five men ranging in age from 29 to 46 were picked up in a coordinated sweep across England, including places like Swindon, Stockport, Rochdale, Manchester, and west London. Four of them are confirmed to be Iranian nationals.

Authorities believe this group was plotting a terrorist attack aimed at a specific site in London. While the details of the target haven’t been made public, the location has been warned and is getting support from law enforcement.

In an unrelated operation, three more Iranian men—aged 39, 44, and 55—were arrested in London on suspicion of breaking national security laws. Police have said this case is separate from the terror plot and is being handled on its own track.

Right now, none of the eight men have been charged, but they’re all still in custody and being questioned. Investigators are trying to figure out the full scope of the threat and whether there’s any ongoing danger to the public. Commander Dominic Murphy, who leads the Counter Terrorism Command, said it’s still early in the investigations, and they’re exploring multiple angles. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the arrests “serious events” and a reminder of the ever-changing security challenges the UK faces.

This all comes as British officials are growing increasingly concerned about threats tied to Iran. Since 2022, intelligence services like MI5 have stopped around 20 potentially deadly plots connected to the Iranian regime, many of them aimed at dissidents living in the UK. In response, the British government has passed new laws to help deal with hostile actions by foreign states.

Bottom line: these arrests show that the threat from Iranian-linked groups isn’t theoretical—it’s real, and UK authorities are taking it seriously.