WASHINGTON 鈥 US President Donald聽Trump, whose war and immigration policies have been condemned by聽Pope Leo, reiterated his聽criticism of the religious leader on Tuesday night.
In a post on Truth Social, Mr. Trump urged that 鈥渟omeone please tell聽Pope Leo鈥 about the killings of protesters by Iran and that 鈥渇or Iran to have a Nuclear Bomb is absolutely unacceptable.鈥
The US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. Iran responded with its own strikes on Israel and Gulf states with US bases. US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Israeli attacks in Lebanon have killed thousands and displaced millions.
Iran does not have nuclear weapons while the US does. Israel is widely believed to be the only Middle Eastern country with nuclear weapons.
While Western countries have long believed that Iran wants a nuclear bomb – or at least the ability to make one very quickly – Tehran has always denied that, citing its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Mr. Trump鈥檚 comments come聽after聽Pope Leo warned earlier in the day of the risk of democracies sliding into 鈥渕ajoritarian tyranny鈥.
The first US pope, Leo聽wrote in a letter issued by the Vatican about the use of power in democratic societies, and said democracies remained healthy only when they were rooted in moral values.
The聽pope has criticized Mr. Trump鈥檚 decision to launch the war against Iran, saying God rejects the prayers of those who launch wars and have 鈥渉ands full of blood.鈥 The聽pope termed Mr. Trump鈥檚 threat this month to destroy the Iranian civilization as unacceptable and聽previously declined to join the US president鈥檚 so-called 鈥淏oard of Peace鈥 initiative for Gaza.
The religious leader has also urged a 鈥渄eep reflection鈥 on the way migrants are treated in the US while Mr. Trump has pursued a hardline immigration policy.
On Sunday, Mr. Trump called the pope 鈥渨eak鈥 and 鈥渢errible鈥 on crime and foreign policy issues. 鈥斅Reuters
