'This is No Small Move': Psychotherapist Exposes Possible Reason Behind Donald Trump’s Explosive Feud With the Pope

Donald Trump’s clashing with the Catholic Church leader, Pope Leo XIV, sparked mixed reactions on social media, but has been widely criticized by religious leaders globally.

Trump targeted the pope and called him weak after the latter refused to support the war waged on Iran by the U.S. and Israel. Now, a psychotherapist has revealed the possible motive behind the president engaging in a dispute with the pope.

The president first shared a 334-word Truth Social post on Sunday, April 12, attacking the Pope where he called the latter, 'weak on crime', and 'weak on nuclear weapons.' The president even shared an AI-generated picture of himself as Jesus Christ which he later clarified was actually him as a doctor amid extreme backlash.

While Trump is often known for taking direct digs at his political rivals or anyone who does not abide by his school of thought, psychotherapist and behavioral specialist Shelly Dar says that this particular enmity is not an ordinary one.

Talking to the Mirror U.S., Dar said, “This is a clash of power and values, in which Trump is talking about strength and control, while Pope Leo is framing things as moral responsibility and speaking out against war.”

The psychotherapist observed that conflicts were already arising after the papal criticism of the U.S. foreign policy and rhetoric, but the president found a way to make the fiasco even murkier by sharing the AI-generated image of himself that which many believed depicted Jesus Christ.

On the controversy surrounding the picture, the behavioral expert said, “It was widely read as Trump casting himself in a Jesus-like role, even though he now says he thought that it showed him as a doctor. Either way, it kept the fire burning. Even if he now says he thought it was him as a doctor, it still reads as a power signal, positioning himself as the one who fixes what others criticize."

The picture inevitably generated mixed opinions with the majority of the internet, including some Republicans, criticizing him. However, some individuals also came out to his defense, which Shelly Dar feels was one of his calculated approaches.

Dar explained, “Psychologically, this is classic Trump media terrain. Provocative, blurry content creates the tension, sparks arguments, and keeps him at the center of the story. And picking a fight with the Pope is no small move."

The psychotherapist pointed out that the important factor in the controversy is what Pope Leo represents and how Donald Trump aims to position himself. The psychotherapist added, “Pope Leo carries a moral authority, so once Trump turns him into an opponent, the row stops looking like a bad post and starts looking like a bigger culture and values battle.”

Dar hinted that the president resorted to a provocative and ambiguous argument against the Pope to spark a heated discussion. She said, “The Pope has been openly critical of U.S. military action and foreign policy, framing it as a moral issue, while Trump frames the same ground as strength and security, and calls the Pope 'weak.' Psychologically and in media terms, this is familiar territory. Ambiguous, provocative content pulls attention, sparks arguments, and keeps him at the centre of the story."