Donald Trump once again criticized Pope Leo XIV, as part of his ongoing habit of attacking various world leaders and Republican associates. In a post on TruthSocial early Wednesday, Trump called out the Pope for not acknowledging Iran’s alleged brutal treatment of protesters and condemned the idea of Iran possessing nuclear weapons. This marked the second instance within a short period where Trump directed his frustrations towards the Pope, following the pontiff’s stance against military intervention in Iran.
In an unusual move, the US President removed an AI-generated post portraying himself as a figure resembling Jesus Christ, suggesting he viewed the depiction as a doctor rather than a religious figure. This action stirred controversy among his evangelical supporters, labeling the image as “blasphemous.” White House staff have faced challenges in managing Trump’s outbursts, closely monitoring his social media activity to intervene if needed.
Vanity Fair reporter Chris Whipple shared insights from an interview with Trump’s chief of staff, Susie Wiles, highlighting the difficulty in controlling Trump’s TruthSocial posts. Whipple described Wiles’ role as mainly reactive, attempting to mitigate the fallout from Trump’s unfiltered online presence.
Apart from his clash with the Pope, Trump’s criticism has extended to international allies and fellow Republicans. Notably, he targeted Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni for her perceived lack of support in the Iran conflict, sparking a public exchange of criticisms between the two leaders. Additionally, Trump hinted at revisiting trade deals with the UK after facing disapproval from opposition leader Keir Starmer over his policies.
Furthermore, Trump’s disputes have reached French President Emmanuel Macron, with Trump mocking Macron and his wife in a public statement. Trump’s confrontations have also affected his relationships with his own administration, leading to dismissals and conflicts with officials like Attorney General Bondi and former advisor John Bolton. Bondi’s handling of sensitive files and Bolton’s critique of Trump’s leadership style resulted in their falling out with the President.