Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a televised Bible reading amidst his ongoing dispute with Pope Leo XIV, who has been openly critical of the US and Israeli actions against Iran. The US president will recite verses 11-22 from Chapter 7 of the Second Book of Chronicles at 6pm EST (11pm BST) on Tuesday as part of ‘America Reads the Bible’, a week-long observance marking the 250th anniversary of the United States. This event aims to honor the nation’s founding principles and encourage a reconnection with the enduring truths that guide it today.
Tensions between Trump and Leo have been mounting for months, reaching a peak in recent weeks. Senator John Kennedy has denounced what he views as the president’s “holy war” against the Pope. On April 7, Leo criticized Trump’s threats to annihilate Iranian civilization as “unacceptable” and emphasized that attacks on civilian infrastructure violate international norms. He urged individuals worldwide to press their political representatives to halt the conflict in the Middle East.
Shortly after, Trump faced backlash from various quarters, including his own supporters, when he shared and later deleted an AI-generated image depicting himself in a Jesus-like role supposedly healing a sick individual. Just before posting this image on April 12, Trump launched a scathing attack on the Pope via Truth Social, labeling him as “WEAK on Crime” and detrimental to Foreign Policy.
Continuing his criticism, Trump expressed disapproval of the Pope’s stance on Iran and Venezuela, insinuating that Leo’s election was influenced by a desire to counter his presidency. Leo, in response the next day, affirmed his lack of apprehension toward the Trump administration and proclaimed his commitment to vocally advocating the Gospel message.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned what he perceived as the “disrespect of Jesus” while expressing solidarity with the Pope. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a Catholic and a staunch Trump ally, criticized the president’s comments about the Pope as inappropriate. She stressed the Pope’s role as the leader of the Catholic Church, endorsing his calls for peace and denunciation of all forms of warfare.
In a subsequent post on April 15, Trump shared another AI-generated religious-themed image of himself with a caption suggesting divine intervention. The image depicted a Jesus-like figure embracing Trump, posted by an account named “Irish for Trump” (@Dkelly4congress), alongside a message hinting at God’s intervention in current events.