Trump’s recent outbursts have raised further concerns about his mental state (image: -)
Donald Trump’s bizarre war of words with the Pope – including posting an AI-rendered image of the President of the United States as a Jesus-like figure who is resurrected – has sparked fears that the world’s most powerful man is “really crazy”.
The US president demanded in a lengthy social media post that the head of the Catholic Church “focus on being a great Pope, not a politician”, hours before the US Navy began blockading Iranian ports under his command.
In a 334-word speech on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Pope Leo of being “weak on crime, weak on nuclear weapons” and said he should “stop promoting the radical left”.
The president also said the pontiff should be “grateful” to 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 grateful because, as everyone knows, he was a shocking surprise.
“He was not on any list to be Pope, and was put in place by the Church only because he was an American, and they thought it would be the best way to deal with President Donald J. Trump. If I had not been in the White House, Leo would not have been in the Vatican.”
Reiterating his comments, Mr Trump – who was among the world leaders present 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)
Professor Anthony Glees, a foreign policy expert at the University of Buckinghamshire, warned that such an attack would pose a major threat to America’s allies in the Western world.
Speaking exclusively to the Express, Professor Gleiss said: “Trump’s attack on the Holy Father defies all rational explanation. In political terms, this is a serious misstep that will put the man on the wrong side of public opinion who should firmly lead the free world.”
“Why is Trump doing this? Why does Trump openly compare himself to Jesus? One explanation, of course, is that he really is crazy. There’s no point in attacking the Pope. There are countless inmates in mental asylums around the world who will try to convince you, if you’ll listen to them, that they’re not actually crazy, they’re Jesus Christ.”
In addition to genuine medical concern about the president’s mental health, Professor Gleizes points to ongoing political pressures at home – stemming from the economic hardship of America’s drawn-out war on Iran – as another possible motivation for Trump’s bizarre broadsides.
The Pope is currently on a 10-day tour of Africa (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
He added: “We must not ignore the fact that Trump is now in a deep political hole, which he dug for himself by attacking Iran with Israel on February 28, and he wants us to forget that.
“The world economy is going to slide into recession very soon. We are all going to pay the price of a war we did not choose, a war that all sane people said America could not win against a despicably ideological regime that will keep fighting without a care.
“Trump, somewhere, realizes he has this.
“Just as Netanyahu bombs Lebanon whenever it is in trouble, Trump bombs those who dare to criticize his foolish actions.”
Responding to Mr Trump’s sharp attack, the Pope said he did not want to “get into a debate” with Mr Trump, saying the message of the Gospel was being “misused” by some people.
“I will continue to speak out loudly against war, to promote peace, to promote dialogue and multilateral relations among states to find just solutions to problems,” he told reporters aboard the papal plane as he embarked on a 10-day visit to Africa.
