In a social media post that is bizarre even by his own standards, Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden threat toward Iran and ended the warning with “Praise be to Allah.”
Writing on his Truth Social platform, the US president threatened to destroy Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to meet the Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping.
He said: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****** Strait, you crazy b*******, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP”
Praise be to Allah is a phrase commonly translated in Islam as “Alhamdulillah”.
Iran dismissed the ultimatum, with officials describing it as “helpless, nervous and stupid”.
Iran’s closure of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz has contributed to rising global oil prices and is putting pressure on the president.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he was considering “blowing everything up and taking over the oil.”
Legal experts have warned that targeting civilian infrastructure such as power plants could constitute as a war crime under Geneva Conventions.
Trump’s comments followed a US military operation that successfully rescued a second crew member from a downed fighter jet inside Iran. Iranian media published images of wreckage from several aircraft but did not dispute the rescue.
“He’s threatening possible war crimes”
Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, responded to Trump’s latest threats: “Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” he wrote.
Backlash also emerged in Washington. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer criticised the president, saying he was “ranting like an unhinged madman.”
“He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better,” he said on X.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, once a staunch Trump ally, called on members of the administration to “intervene in Trump’s madness” in a post on X.
“Everyone in his administration that claims to be a Christian needs to fall on their knees and beg forgiveness from God and stop worshipping the President and intervene in Trump’s madness,” she wrote.
And many Christian politicians and influencers were offended by Trump’s invocation of an Islamic phrase during the Easter period.
Meanwhile, in an Easter message, Pope Francis issued a broader appeal for peace, which critics felt was a rebuke of Trump: “Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace.”
