Pope Leo defends himself against attack from Donald Trump
Pope Leo XIV on Monday strongly pushed back against criticism from Donald Trump. Then pope defended his position of seeking peace and rejecting violence amid the Iran war. “I have no fear of the Trump administration or speaking out loudly of the message of the Gospel, which is what I believe I am here to do, what the church is here to do,” the pope told reporters aboard his plane where he was starting a 10-day trip to the African continent. Trump tore into the pope on Sunday evening, saying he’s “terrible for foreign policy” and “I’m not a fan of Pope Leo.” Pope Leo previously condemned Trump’s rhetoric and threats to wipe out an entire civilization as “truly unacceptable.”
Trump posts image of himself as Jesus
Donald Trump has posted on his internet site an image of himself as Jesus,.. The image shows Trump dressed in robes as Jesus wore and with a beatific face. Trump is shown with one hand resting on the forehead of a man who is sick, as if he is healing the man. Several MAGA commentators quickly posted on their internet sites that the image is blasphemy. Former right-wing Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene posted, “It’s more than blasphemy. It’s an Antichrist spirit.” Megan Basham of the conservative website The Daily Wire said Trump should take down the image immediately and “ask for ask for forgiveness from the American people and then from God.”
Hungarian dictator defeated in what also is defeat for Trump
Viktor Orban was decisively defeated in an election in which he sought to continue in power as Hungary’s dictator. He has ruled Hungary for 16 years. Orban conceded defeat to his opponent, Peter Magyar. Orban had been a strong ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Vice President Vance campaigned in Budapest last week to try to help Orban. Donald Trump in messages to the Hungarian people urged them to get out and vote for Orban. Trump called the Hungarian dictator “a true friend, fighter and WINNER.”
Trump issues blockade order for Strait of Hormuz
After having started a war that he said was in part to ensure that the Strait of Hormuz remained open, Donald Trump has ordered the U.S. Navy to blockade the strait. The blockade order would apply to at least all Iranian ports, both inside and outside of the strait. Trump said he also has ordered the Navy to stop every vessel in International Waters that has paid a toll to Iran. Trump also said the Navy had begun minesweeping operations in the strait. Iran still has an unknown number of small boats that can carry missiles, surface drones, aerial drones and land-based cruise missiles as well as shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles that could hit targets in the strait.
Swalwell ends run for California governor
Congressman Eric Swalwell said Sunday he would withdraw from the California governor’s race in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct. ”I will fight the serious, false allegations that have been made — but that’s my fight, not a campaign’s,” Swalwell said. A former Swalwell staffer told CNN the congressman raped her when she was heavily intoxicated and left her bruised and bleeding. Swalwell has strongly denied the allegations. She said the incident happened in 2024 in New York City. The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office said Saturday it is investigating the allegation.
U.S. military kills five in Eastern Pacific
The U.S. military conducted strikes against two alleged drug-trafficking boats in the Eastern Pacific over the weekend, killing five people, according to U.S. Southern Command. There was no evidence presented showing that the boats actually were engaged in trafficking drugs. The U.S. military has killed at least 168 people in strikes that have destroyed 50 boats since Sept. 2. There have been at least 15 survivors of those strikes, at least two of whom were briefly detained by the U.S. Navy before being returned to their home countries. Some members of Congress as well as human rights groups say people believed to be drug traffickers should face prosecution and not be killed based on a suspicion.
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