"Trump's 'cleric' calls US military conflict with Iran a 'spiritual duty'

One of Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters, Pastor Mark Burns, has issued a strong statement in support of U.S.-Israeli military operations against Iran, characterizing them as a «spiritual obligation.» In a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), he drew an analogy between military intervention and protecting an innocent woman from violence.

According to Christian Today, Burns claimed that millions of Iranians held «at gunpoint by an evil dictator» are grateful to Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump for trying to topple the current regime. The pastor also emphasized that Trump is under divine protection and that the attempts on his life in 2024 have led the politician to a deeper understanding of his faith.

The current round of escalation began after Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and other key figures were eliminated in joint US-Israeli strikes. Since then, the conflict has escalated into a full-scale exchange of missile strikes. At the same time, both sides actively use religious rhetoric: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is accused of comparing Iran to the biblical tribe of «Amalek,» which according to Scripture is to be destroyed.

There are also recorded complaints within the U.S. military community about the use of Christian motives to justify war. One complaint alleges that some commanders refer to Donald Trump as the «anointed of Jesus,» whose mission in Iran is to stoke the fires of Armageddon and pave the way for Christ’s return to Earth.