【Trump: I don’t want a pope who considers Iran possessing nuclear weapons as normal】

Trump posted on a social platform stating he doesn’t need a Roman pope opposing his policies. “I don’t want a pope who considers Iran having nuclear weapons as normal. I don’t want a pope who views the U.S. targeting Venezuela as something terrible. I don’t want a pope who criticizes the American president.”

Trump also shared another post: a photo showing himself glowing, surrounded by prayerful figures, placing his hand on a patient’s forehead.

Micro-commentary

Current Pope Leo XIV is the first American-born pope, with long-standing work experience in Latin America, particularly Peru, and has frequently spoken out against Trump:

-- Criticizing his “wall-building and mass deportation of undocumented immigrants” as contrary to Christian love, calling the deportation policy “inhumane,” damaging families, and undermining the American Dream.

-- Opposing U.S. interference in Latin America, condemning Trump’s Venezuela policy as a “terrible move.”

-- Calling Trump’s government’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement a “regrettable step backward,” advocating that “denying climate crisis is unjust to future generations.”

-- Publicly denouncing Trump’s “threats against all Iranian people as completely unacceptable,” labeling U.S. actions toward Iran as “an unjust war,” violating the doctrine of “life above all.”

-- Saying “God does not hear prayers from blood-stained hands,” subtly criticizing the White House prayer meetings.

More intriguingly, Trump is not a Catholic. What does he want from the pope? He himself does not believe in Catholicism, yet posts images of “miraculous light” and placing his hand on a patient’s forehead—clearly leveraging religious symbols to appeal to conservative voters, especially white evangelical Christians. Many in this group already distrust Catholics and resent the pope; opposing the pope actually enhances their support.

Trump is widely regarded as belonging to the Presbyterian branch of Protestantism and was raised in a Presbyterian family. He is also not a typical devout believer. Despite his shallow personal faith, he heavily relies on support from white evangelical Protestants. White evangelicals = the soul of American Christian conservatism + the Republican Party’s solid voting bloc + the foundation of Trump’s political survival. His pastor openly stated: “Trump is like Cyrus the Persian king from the Bible—personally not pious, but chosen by God to save Christians and rebuild the temple.”

Character doesn’t matter; stance and outcome are everything.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862357779684428/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.