THE WORLD IS still facing the devastating and unpredictable consequences of Operation Epic Fiasco, Trump’s impulsive, foolish and brutal war against Iran.

His threat to obliterate a “whole civilisation”, a threat that he has not withdrawn, was profoundly wicked.

It was also ironic because it is the civilisation of the United States itself that he has brought right to the brink. It is increasingly self-evident that he is a malign actor in our troubled world.

Pope Leo’s forceful condemnation on Saturday of Trump’s barbarous war and of “the delusion of omnipotence” was welcome and timely. Even if he didn’t mention the US President by name, his message and its principal target were clear. It was a reminder that today’s world is facing a choice not only between madness and common sense, but between good and evil. The Iranian regime, with the brutal repression of its own people, shares in that evil.

Donald Trump's Truth Social posts showing he wasn't happy with Pope Leo. Truth Social Truth Social

Importantly, the Pope alluded to the fact that Trump and many of those around him purport to be Christians when he said that, “even in the Name of God”, God is being dragged into “discourses of death”. Some US evangelicals grotesquely compare Trump to Jesus. Pete Hegseth, who espouses a weird “Christian” sect, has described the attack on Iran as a holy war carried out “in the name of Jesus Christ”. Trump has, typically, responded to the Pope’s criticism with an unhinged rant against him.

The unholy administration

Trump doesn’t stand alone, indicted by world opinion for his........

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