- Donald Trump launched an attack on Pope Leo on his Truth Social platform after the pontiff vowed to continue speaking out against war, particularly regarding Iran.
- Trump criticised Pope Leo for being 'weak on crime' and 'terrible for foreign policy,' and also assailed NATO allies for not supporting the US.
- The US Vice President, JD Vance, a Catholic, advised Pope Leo to be 'careful when he talks about matters of theology' in an extraordinary intervention.
- Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Trump ally, called his comments 'unacceptable' and expressed solidarity with Pope Leo, leading Trump to also criticise her.
- Trump faced widespread condemnation, including from Iran and former ally Marjorie Taylor Green, for sharing an AI image that appeared to depict him as Jesus, which he later claimed was a doctor.
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