In a rare moment of candor, President Donald Trump spoke openly about his desire to go to heaven “if possible,” expressing doubt about the state of his soul and going on to say that he hoped that his efforts to promote peace between Russia and Ukraine might increase his standing with God.
For background, during an August 19, 2025, phone interview with “Fox & Friends,” the president made it clear that one of his goals is to go to heaven after he dies. However, President Trump said that based on apparent public sentiment, he is “really at the bottom of the totem pole.” In response, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that she was confident that the president was sincere in his desire to please God.
During the interview, the president told the hosts of “Fox & Friends,” “I want to try to get to heaven, if possible.” He continued, “I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole.” Referring to his efforts to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, the president then added, “But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”
Moreover, according to press accounts, this was not the first time that President Trump has spoken vulnerably about mortality and his ultimate destiny. The New York Times reported that the president, upon turning 78, said, “You know, there’s a certain point at which you don’t want to hear ‘Happy Birthday,’” adding, “You just want to pretend the day doesn’t exist.”
Continuing, President Trump said, “My father lived a long time, my mother lived a long time, and they were happy, and they were great.” Referring to himself and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, he added, “So maybe we’re going to live a long time. I hope so.”
Listen to the president here:
Furthermore, the president previously spoke about heaven and hell during a rally, according to the Times. Reflecting on his felony convictions, he said, “Now my beautiful parents are up in heaven, I think they are,” he said at one rally. “They’re up there, looking down. They say, ‘How did this happen to my son?’”
In addition, at a Madison Square Garden rally on November 6, 2024, President Trump expressed some uncertainty about the ultimate resting place of his parents, saying, “I know my mother’s in heaven,” adding, “I’m not 100 percent sure about my father, but it’s close.”
After the president made his comments about wanting to go to heaven on “Fox & Friends,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, “I think the president was serious.” When reporters began laughing at her take on the president’s statements, Leavitt said, “I think the president wants to get to heaven, as I hope we all do in this room as well.”
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