The Dalai Lama slams Trump for 'lack of moral principle'

He expressed concerns about Trump's 'America First' policy

(Reuters)

The Dalai Lama has criticised Donald Trump for his "lack of moral principle" over the US administration's treatment of young children at the US-Mexico border.

In an interview with the BBC, the Tibetan spiritual and political leader in exile expressed concerns over the president's "America First" policy, showing a stark contrast with his previous statement on Trump.

"When I saw pictures of some of those young children, I was sad," the Dalai Lama said of the situation at the US-Mexico border. "America... should take a global responsibility."

When Donald Trump got elected in 2016, the Dalai Lama showed little concern about what the Republican candidate said on the campaign trail. "Sometimes I feel during the election, the candidate has more freedom to express," he told reporters at the time, adding that once in power all presidents were forced to work with "reality."

He even expressed a desire to meet with President Trump after his inauguration. However, the invitation never came, likely because of the US concerns over how it could affect the country's relationship with China, which is in a constant struggle against the Tibetan leader and tends to reprehend countries that meet with the spiritual superstar.

The Dalai Lama also allegedly kept his distance from Trump in 2017 when the President became closer and closer to Xi Jinping. Even though Trump's relationship with China has worsened since then, the Tibetan leaders does not seem inclined to get any closer to the US in its current political turmoil.

He was also disappointed when Mr Trump did not visit the Buddhist nation during his "religious tour" of Muslim, Christian and Jewish lands in 2017, according to Washington Examiner.

The Dalai Lama has a history of getting along well with American presidents. He has met with the four latest presidents, and George W Bush presented him with the Congressional gold medal in 2007.