Trump’s war of words with the Pope sparks fears US President ‘is actually insane’ | World | News
Trump’s recent outbursts have raised more concerns about his state of mind (Image: -)
Donald Trump’s bizarre war of words with the Pope – which included posting an AI-rendered image of the President of the United States as a Jesus-like figure performing a resurrection – have sparked fears the most powerful man in the world “is actually insane”.
The US president, in a lengthy social media post hours before the American navy was due to begin blockading Iranian ports under his orders, demanded that the head of the Catholic Church “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician”.
In a 334-word rant on his Truth Social platform, Trump went on to accuse Pope Leo of being “Weak on Crime, Weak on Nuclear Weapons” and said he should “stop catering to the Radical Left”.
The president also said the pontiff should be “thankful” to have become Pope last year, suggesting the first North American leader of the Catholic Church was chosen as someone who could “deal with” Mr Trump.
The president wrote: “Leo should be thankful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise.
“He wasn’t on any list to be Pope, and was only put there by the Church because he was an American, and they thought that would be the best way to deal with President Donald J Trump. If I wasn’t in the White House, Leo wouldn’t be in the Vatican.”
Doubling down on his remarks, Mr Trump – who was among world leaders in attendance at Pope Francis’ funeral almost a year ago – also told reporters: “I don’t think he’s doing a very good job. I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.”
Donald Trump as Jesus (Image: @realDonaldTrump)
And such an attack should be a giant red flag to America’s allies in the Western world, foreign policy expert Professor Anthony Glees from the University of Buckinghamshire has warned.
Speaking exclusively to the Express, Prof Glees said: “Trump’s attack on the Holy Father defies all rational explanation. In political terms, it is a grave mis-step which will put the person who should be leading the free world firmly on the wrong side of public opinion.
“Why is Trump doing this? Why does Trump openly compare himself to Jesus? One explanation is, of course, that he is actually insane. It simply doesn’t make sense to attack the Pope. In lunatic asylums around the world there are countless inmates who will try to convince you, if you listen to them, that they’re not actually barmy, they’re Jesus Christ.”
Short of a genuine medical concern about the President’s mental health, Prof Glees points to ongoing political pressures at home – stirred up by the economic hardship of America’s drawn out war on Iran – as another possible motivation for Trump’s bizarre broadside.
The Pope is currently on a 10-day tour in Africa (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He went on: “We should not ignore the truth that Trump is now in a deep political hole which he dug for himself when he attacked Iran with Israel on 28 February and he wants us to forget it.
“The world economy is going to start tanking very, very soon. We are all going to be paying the price for a war we did not choose, a war all sensible people said America could not win against a vile ideological regime who would fight on regardless.
“Trump somewhere realises he’s had it.
“Just as Netanyahu bombs Lebanon whenever he’s in trouble so Trump word-bombs those who dare to criticise his zany actions.”
Responding to Trump’s tirade, the pontiff said he does not want to “get into a debate” with Mr Trump, adding that the message of the Gospel was being “abused” by some people.
He told reporters onboard the papal plane as he embarked on a 10-day tour in Africa: “I will continue to speak out loudly against war, looking to promote peace, promoting dialogue and multilateral relationships among the states to look for just solutions to problems.”
