President Trump weighs in on Charlie Gard controversy

President Donald Trump tweeted his support for Charlie Gard, a 10-month-old critically ill British child, Monday morning, as doctors in London make plans to turn off the child's life support.

"If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so," Trump said.

If we can help little #CharlieGard, as per our friends in the U.K. and the Pope, we would be delighted to do so.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2017

Gard was born with a rare genetic genetic disease called infantile onset encephalomyopathy mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, which causes progressive muscle weakness and brain damage.

Gard's parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, lost their final legal battle last week when the European Court of Human Rights upheld the Supreme Court's decision to deny Gard the chance to travel to the United States. The couple had raised nearly $2 million to transfer their son to the U.S. to undergo the experimental treatment in the hopes of saving his life after doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital recommended Gard's life support should be turned off.

"There is significant harm if what the parents want for Charlie comes into effect," a lawyer for the hospital argued in front of appellate judges. "The significant harm is a condition of existence which is offering the child no benefit."

Pope Francis also released a statement on Gard's case on Sunday, expressing support for Gard's parents.

"The Holy Father is following with affection and emotion the situation of little Charlie Gard and expresses his closeness to his parents. He is praying for them, in the hope that their desire to accompany and care for their own child until the end will be respected," Greg Burke, director of the Holy See press office, said.

Gard's life support was originally scheduled to be turned off Friday, but the intervention has been delayed to allow his parents to spend some extra final moments with him.