For God and Country—or Neither: A Critique on Trump's War with Iran
On Wednesday, April 15th, Pope Leo XIV spread a message of international peace, reminding world leaders to embrace differences so we can live together in harmony. In response, J.D. Vance told him to “be careful” when speaking about matters of politics.
While on a trip to Algeria, Pope Leo visited the Great Mosque of Algiers as a message of tolerance and unity between the Christian and Muslim faiths. He remarked that it was important "...to promote that kind of image…” as it was “... something which the world needs to hear today." In addition to sharing this overarching theme, the Pope had a pointed message for world leaders. He called Trump’s war with Iran "absolutely unacceptable”, stating that God does not bless those who drop bombs. It was this statement that garnered backlash from the Trump administration. At a press event with Turning Point USA, Vice President J.D. Vance disagreed with the Pope’s decision to mix politics with matters of morality. Vance, a practicing Catholic, questioned the Pope’s authority when commenting on international affairs, preferring to trust his own experience in politics as his guiding force. At a speech in Cameroon, Pope Leo again preached a message of pacifism, asking the “handful of tyrants” that drive international war to consider its real effects. He remarked further saying, "...woe to those who manipulate religion and the very name of God for their own military, economic and political gain, dragging that which is sacred into darkness and filth." For some reason, the Trump administration took that personally, responding that the Pope is "weak on crime and soft on foreign policy.” Although Trump has claimed to represent the Christian faith numerous times throughout his two administrations, his actions have failed to get approval from important religious leaders. As the Trump administration receives pushback from the Church, one may wonder who actually supports Trump’s war with Iran. According to a poll done by Reuters and Ipsos, only 24% of Americans think the war with Iran has been worth the costs, and 60% of Americans disapprove of the war overall.
Trump has claimed long standing support from the Christian Nationalist community—claiming to represent the wishes of God and citizens above all else. Yet, he continues to support a war not backed by either. As fans of the conflict seem to be few and far between, even in the communities who are the most avid supporters, one is left to wonder why Trump refuses to de-escalate. As Trump continues to ignore voices of protest, we can only assume his motivation to continue with the conflict in Iran comes from his personal rationale. The administration has claimed numerous impetuses behind this war, from nuclear non-proliferation to support for Israel to a decrease in oil prices, yet each reason seems to fall short of truly justifying a disregard of both ‘God and country.’ Vance’s warning to the Pope sets a frightening precedent: morality and politics are mutually exclusive for the administration. As we see more and more be sacrificed for lower oil prices, we can only hope Trump’s decisions find their moral tether soon.