Why Trump Wants to Close The Strait of Hormuz and the Fight with Pope Leo XIV episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 13, 2026 · 20 MIN

Why Trump Wants to Close The Strait of Hormuz and the Fight with Pope Leo XIV

from Here's the Scoop · host yasmin vossoughian, richard engel, claudio lavanga

Oil prices surged again today as a U.S. blockade on the Strait of Hormuz took effect. After Vice President JD Vance walked away from 21 hours of negotiations in Islamabad without a deal, Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel analyzes the prospects for a peace deal. And Pope Leo XIV, the first American to head the Catholic Church, is clashing with President Trump, who has been lambasting the pope for his calls to end the war with Iran. Pope Leo said this morning he is “not afraid” of the Trump administration. NBC News International Correspondent Claudio Lavanga explains why Pope Leo XIV’s statements are a departure from his more neutral stance and how Catholics are reacting to Trump’s antagonism toward the pontiff. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Why Trump Wants to Close The Strait of Hormuz and the Fight with Pope Leo XIV

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