Donald Trump once again criticized Pope Leo XIV, continuing his trend of attacking global leaders and Republican allies. Trump took to TruthSocial to express his displeasure, urging the Pope to acknowledge Iran’s actions and warning against their nuclear ambitions. This outburst marked Trump’s second recent criticism of the Pope, following the pontiff’s calls for peace and rejection of military intervention in Iran.
In an unusual move, the US President removed an AI-generated image depicting himself as a healer akin to Jesus Christ, claiming he saw it as a portrayal of a doctor. This action, coupled with his online feud with the Pope, faced backlash even from his own supporters, particularly evangelical MAGA followers who deemed the image blasphemous.
Vanity Fair’s Chris Whipple, in an interview with Trump’s chief of staff Susie Wiles, highlighted the challenges faced by the staff in managing Trump’s TruthSocial posts, indicating a lack of control over his online behavior.
Apart from targeting the Pope, Trump directed criticism at international allies and members of his own party. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni faced Trump’s ire for not intervening in the US-Iran conflict, leading to a public exchange of accusations between the two leaders. Trump also hinted at revisiting trade deals with the UK following disagreements with Labour Party leader Keir Starmer over energy policies.
Furthermore, Trump’s disputes extended to French President Emmanuel Macron, Attorney General Bondi, and Republican Thomas Massie, with each facing Trump’s public rebukes for various reasons. Trump’s history of clashing with allies and advisors, like John Bolton, underscored his confrontational approach towards those who diverged from his views.