Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a televised Bible reading amidst his ongoing disagreement with Pope Leo XIV, a prominent critic of US policies towards Iran and Israel.
The President of the United States will recite passages from the Book of Two Chronicles at 6pm EST (11pm BST) this Tuesday as part of ‘America Reads the Bible’, a week-long program coinciding with the commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. This initiative aims to commemorate the core principles on which the nation was founded and encourage a reconnection with these enduring truths, as outlined on the ‘America Reads the Bible’ website.
This event occurs amidst escalating tensions between Trump and Pope Leo, with Senator John Kennedy, a Republican lawmaker, criticizing what he perceives as the President’s confrontational stance towards the Pope.
Trump faced backlash from various quarters, including his own supporters, after he shared and subsequently deleted an AI-generated image depicting him in a messianic role seemingly healing a sick individual in a hospital bed.
Shortly before posting the image on April 12, Trump launched a verbal attack on the Pope via Truth Social, criticizing his approach to crime and foreign policy. He expressed discontent with the Pope’s views on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and America’s actions towards Venezuela.
Furthermore, Trump hinted that the Pope’s election may have been influenced by American interests seeking to manage relations with him. He implied that had he not been in office, the current Pope might not hold his position in the Vatican.
In response, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he deemed as disrespect towards Jesus while expressing solidarity with the Pope. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic and Trump’s close ally, denounced the President’s comments about the Pope as unacceptable.
Meloni emphasized the Pope’s role as the leader of the Catholic Church, stating that it is within his purview to advocate for peace and denounce any form of conflict. Despite her alignment with Trump, she found it necessary to address his critique of the Pope.
On April 15, Trump shared another AI-generated image portraying him in a religious context, accompanied by a peculiar caption suggesting a divine intervention favoring him.
The President shared a screenshot on his Truth Social account showing a post featuring a Jesus-like figure embracing him. The post, originating from an account named “Irish for Trump” (@Dkelly4congress), depicted a figure resembling Jesus standing alongside Trump with arms around him.
The post included a caption insinuating a divine plan in light of recent societal revelations, suggesting that a higher power might be intervening on Trump’s behalf.
During a press conference aboard the papal plane, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his lack of apprehension towards the Trump administration and reiterated his commitment to advocating the Gospel’s message, which he believes is his primary mission.
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