Trump Lashes Out at Pope, GOP Senators Dodge Questions on His Mental State

Trump Lashes Out at Pope, GOP Senators Dodge Questions on His Mental State Former President Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric, including a direct attack on the Pope and comparisons of himself to Jesus Christ, is causing political tremors at home and abroad, while his Republican allies in Congress sidestep questions about his stability [129548][129033]. The controversy began after Pope Leo XIV issued a broad condemnation of war, stating "God does not bless any conflict" [129548]. While not naming Trump, the comments were widely interpreted as a critique of the former president's foreign policy stance. Trump responded on social media, calling the pontiff "weak" and a "globalist" [129548]. Political analysts warn the attack risks alienating Catholic voters, a crucial swing bloc in U.S. elections. Trump's running mate, JD Vance, a Catholic convert, has so far remained silent on the dispute [129548]. The incident drew a rare show of bipartisan unity in Italy, where the main opposition party defended Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after Trump suggested she should be "careful" of the Pope [129350]. Meanwhile, in Washington, more than a dozen Republican U.S. senators repeatedly refused to answer direct questions from reporters about Trump's mental state following his comments [129033]. When pressed, senators declined to express concern, instead using non-committal phrases like "a person of enthusiasm" to describe him [129033]. The coordinated silence highlights a strategic choice by the president's party to avoid publicly examining his behavior as the election season intensifies [129033]. The pattern of Trump challenging institutions extended to the Federal Reserve, as former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen condemned political pressure on the independent central bank. She compared Trump's efforts to influence interest rates to the actions of a "banana republic" [129386]. Trump's Attack on Pope Risks Alienating Catholic Swing Voters Title: Republicans Dodge Questions on Trump's Mental State Italian Opposition Defends PM Meloni After Trump Criticism Yellen Compares Trump Rate Pressure to 'Banana Republic'