Donald Trump met with the Prime Minister of Bahrain, Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, at the White House on July 16, 2025. The meeting was one of several high-profile visits as Trump tried to position himself as a global dealmaker once again. But in the middle of these political moves, Trump surprised many by revealing a very personal concern — whether or not he will go to heaven.
On Tuesday morning, Trump called into Fox & Friends shortly after hosting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other world leaders to discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. During the interview, he explained that one of the reasons he is so focused on peace talks is because he wants to make sure that, when he dies, he will be allowed into heaven.
For a man who has always presented himself as tough, confident, and unwilling to admit weakness, it was a rare moment of self-reflection. Trump, who has built his image on never apologizing and always fighting back, admitted that he had been thinking about his mortality.
He said: “If I can save 7,000 people a week from getting killed, that’s pretty good. I want to try and get to heaven, if possible.” He even added, “I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons.”
Before long, however, Trump returned to his usual tone of self-praise. He reminded listeners of times when he claimed to have prevented wars, mentioning India and Pakistan’s violent clash in May 2025 after a terrorist attack in Kashmir. He insisted that he helped calm the situation, saving lives. He also bragged about making “six, actually seven” peace deals during his second presidential term.
At the White House, Trump had just finished meetings with Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other European leaders. The meetings were tense, with many questioning Trump’s approach to handling the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Yet his unusual comments about heaven quickly overshadowed the diplomatic discussions.
His remarks sparked immediate speculation about his health. Critics and commentators online, including the anti-Trump conservative group The Lincoln Project, openly wondered whether Trump’s comments reflected deeper issues.
They suggested that for a man who usually projects strength, suddenly worrying about heaven might be a sign that his health — or at least his mental state — is not as stable as he wants the public to believe.
These concerns were fueled further by Trump’s recent health scares. Last month, photographs showed discoloration on his hands and swelling around his ankles, prompting questions about his physical condition.
The White House eventually released a statement after Trump underwent a full medical checkup.
His physician reported that Trump had been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a condition common among people over 70 that causes blood to pool in the legs and feet, leading to swelling. The medical team emphasized that there was no sign of more serious problems like heart failure or kidney disease.
Despite these reassurances, doubts remain. Trump’s unusual focus on life after death, paired with the visible signs of aging and illness, has left many wondering if he is struggling more than he lets on. At the same time, his supporters continue to see him as a strong leader determined to bring peace, while his critics believe his health concerns could explain his shifting tone and unexpected reflections about heaven.
