President Donald Trump mocked the New York Times at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, pointing out that when he ruminated in a joking way about getting into heaven, the Times hypothesized that he was questioning the meaning of his life.
“You can’t be sarcastic with them because they write your words,” he said. “The people that are reading the words are much different … I said, “I’m never going to make it to heaven. I just don’t think I qualify.’”
“I don’t think there’s a thing I can do but all of these good things I’m doing, including for religion — you know, religion’s back now hotter than ever before — but I said, ‘Even though I did that, and so many other things’ — I named things. I said, ‘I won’t qualify. I’m not going to make it to heaven.’”
“And the New York Times did a front-page story that Donald Trump is questioning his life and the meaning of his life,” he recalled. “No, I was just having fun. I really think I probably should make it; I mean, I’m not a perfect candidate but I did a hell of a lot of good for perfect people.“
NEW: President Trump mocks the media for not grasping his sense of humor during a lighthearted moment about his faith.
“I said, ‘I won’t qualify. I’m not going to make it to heaven.’ And the New York Times did a front-page story that Donald Trump is questioning his life and the… pic.twitter.com/eY2EjB1JJz
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 5, 2026
Last October 12, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, “I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven. I really don’t. I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly on Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.”
Later, at the end of October, Peter Baker of the Times wrote the following:
A few weeks ago, President Trump momentarily dropped the bombast and the playground insults and the self-congratulation to muse about his eternal soul. “I want to try and get to heaven, if possible,” he said. “I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole.”
Prodded by a reporter this month to elaborate, he repeated the lament without much more explanation. “I’m being a little cute,” he said. But he went on: “I don’t think there’s anything that’s going to get me into heaven. I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound.”
Mr. Trump is hardly the first 79-year-old to dwell on what may come after he departs this mortal coil — or to wonder whether he has earned entry into the pearly gates. But it is so unlike Mr. Trump to express self-doubt that his public rumination has raised questions. What is on his mind lately that makes him fear his fate in the hereafter? What sins might he be regretting?
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