Donald Trump’s TruthSocial diplomacy has sparked ire among allies who have started to push back against the president’s wildest tantrums on the social media platform
Donald Trump has once again lashed out at Pope Leo XIV, continuing his pattern of launching tirades against world leaders and Republican allies alike.
“Will someone please tell Pope Leo that Iran has killed at least 42,000 innocent, completely unarmed, protesters in the last two months, and that for Iran to have a nuclear bomb is absolutely unacceptable,” Trump said in a TruthSocial post in the early hours of Wednesday. It was Trump’s second Pope-centred tantrum in the space of a few days and followed the pontiff’s pleas for an end to the conflict as well as his smack down of military intervention against Iran.
In a rare move, the US President took down an AI-generated post that depicted himself as Jesus Christ healing a sick man as others appeared to pray to him. Trump claimed he believed the image, showing him in robes and surrounded by a heavenly halo, actually depicted him as a doctor.
The papal feud and TruthSocial post sparked backlash among his own base, with evangelical MAGA supporters branding the image, in particular, as “blasphemy.” White House staffers have struggled to reign in Trump during his tirades and tantrums, with multiple Trump team staff keeping tabs on his latest posts, ready to distract, or even stop him, if necessary.
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Vanity Fair reporter Chris Whipple, who interviewed Trump’s chief of staff – Susie Wiles – said: “I think it’s just a way for Wiles to keep up with it because nobody tries to control his Truth Social postings. He is unplugged, unshackled, unconstrained when it comes to Truth Social and all they can do is try to keep up and do damage control — and rarely do they even do that.”
While Trump sparked controversy after he took aim at the Pope, he has also lashed out at international allies as well as members of his own Republican Party. Here’s a rundown of some of those who Trump has attacked.
Giorgia Meloni – ‘Lacking courage’
Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni could not escape the president’s wrath despite the far-right politician being a darling of America’s conservative movement. Trump hit out at Meloni on Tuesday, claiming she lacked courage over failing to intervene in the US attack on Iran.
“I’m shocked at her. I thought she had courage, but I was wrong,” he told Italian media. “Giorgia Meloni doesn’t want to help us in the war. I’m shocked. Do people like the fact that your president isn’t doing anything to get the oil? Does she like it? I can’t imagine.”
Meloni in turn hit out against the US President, rushing to the Pope’s defence and branding his tirades as “unacceptable.” Trump responded: “She is the one who is unacceptable because she doesn’t care if Iran has a nuclear weapon and would blow up Italy in two minutes if it had the chance.
Keir Starmer – Trade deal threat
Trump unleashed a hardly-veiled threat against the UK, claiming a trade deal signed with the UK could be revisited after Keir Starmer said he was “fed up” with the US President’s war that spiked energy prices. Speaking of the state of the special relationship, Trump told Sky News it was in a “sad state” and that the UK had not been there “when we needed them.”
“We gave them a good trade deal, better than I had to, which can always be changed,” Trump continued. “It’s the relationship where when we asked them for help, they were not there when we needed them, they were not there when we didn’t need them. They were not there, and they still aren’t there.”
Starmer – who has borne the brunt of several Trump tirades – has signalled he is willing to pivot away from the US after arguing in favour of a closer relationship with the European Union.
Emmanuel Macron – Wife jibes
Trump lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron, putting on a fake French accent and claiming his wife “treats him extremely badly.” The US president mocked Macron after France refused to get involved in the war in Iran.
“I call up France, Macron – whose wife treats him extremely badly,” Trump previously said. “Still recovering from the right to the jaw.” Trump referred to a May 2025 video that appeared to show Brigitte Macron hitting her husband in the face, which the French President later downplayed.
Pam Bondi – ‘Frustrated’
Attorney General lost Trump’s confidence after her disastrous handling of the Epstein Files and his view that failed to execute his vision” for the presidency. Trump reportedly grew “more and more frustrated” with Bondi, a source told NBC News.
The pair reportedly had a heated confrontation at the White House before Bondi was fired with the Attorney General claimed to be begging to keep her job. While Trump praised Bondi following her dismissal, behind the scenes he is understood to have hit out at her handling of the Epstein Files and for not pursuing cases against his political oponents.
Thomas Massie – ‘Complete disaster’
Republican Thomas Massie has proved to be a consistent thorn in Trump’s side after he forced the president to release the Epstein Files. Trump had branded the files a “democrat hoax” but Massie opted to challenge the Republican leader, arguing he would not cover up for paedophiles.
The president now backs ex Navy SEAL Ed Gallrein to run for Massie’s Kentucky seat and branded him a “complete and total disaster as a congressman and, frankly, as a human being.” Trump demands complete loyalty from members of Congress and promotes challengers should they fall out of line.
Massie previously defended himself, stating: “I vote with the GOP, regardless of what you see on TV, 91 per cent of the time. But in the 9 per cent of the time, if they’re covering up for paedophiles, bankrupting the country or starting another war, I don’t vote that way.”
Anthony Scaramucci – Mooch pile on
President Trump has previous form in attacking allies. During his first term, Trump fired ex-communications director Anthony Scaramucci after just 10 days at the White House.
Trump reportedly hit out at the “Mooch” after he attacked members of the administration. “He takes extra pleasure in seeing people tee off on Anthony,” a source previously told Politico. “The signal was very clear when he started tweeting about it mercilessly. There’s a reason that the pile-on continues.”
John Bolton – ‘Crazy’
Donald Trump lashed out at former advisor John Bolton, slamming him as a “washed-up guy” and “crazy” warmonger who would have led the US into “World War Six,” following his fall out with the president during his first term. Bolton hit out at what he described as the president’s lack of dicipline, conduct and attention to detail.
Bolton has since become a largely critical voice against the US President and has drawn Trump’s ire. Bolton was charged with storing sensitive information at his home in a move critics believe was motivated by revenge.
“I have become the latest target in weaponizing the Justice Department to charge those he deems to be his enemies with charges that were declined before or distort the facts,” Bolton said last year.