The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has deleted his post on the social network Truth in which he appeared represented as Jesus Christ after receiving negative reactions even from some of his own followers. The removal of the content also comes amid a growing controversy with Pope Leo XIV over his statements on war and international politics.
The episode is framed within the exchange of messages between both leaders, after Trump called the pontiff "terrible in foreign policy" for his calls to curb conflicts in Iran and Venezuela. The pope, for his part, has defended that his stance responds to a "moral obligation" of the Church and has assured that he is not "afraid" to continue denouncing war.
A direct clash between the White House and the Vatican
Trump has intensified his criticism against Leo XIV, urging him to "put on the batteries" and to focus on his religious work, while accusing him of aligning with political positions. In that context, the president went so far as to publish this Monday a photomontage in which he appeared as a messianic-type figure alluding to the Iran war.
The pope has responded from the plane en route to Algeria defending that "the Gospel is clear" and that the Church must side with peace. "We are not politicians, but we do have the obligation to speak when there is war", he affirmed, stressing that he will continue to speak out despite the criticism.