Trump Says He Might Not Make Heaven Despite Role in Israel-Hamas Hostage Deal

President Donald Trump joked on Sunday that he may not “make heaven,” even after helping secure the Israel-Hamas hostage deal, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.

The quip came after Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked if Trump believed the agreement might influence Saint Peter to grant him entry to heaven. Trump replied with humor, saying he wasn’t counting on it.

“I’m being a little cute — I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven, okay? I really don’t,” he said. “I may be in heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m gonna be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.”

The question came about two months after Trump previously said that ending the Russia-Ukraine war would improve his chances of entering the pearly gates. On Sunday, he added that if the 2020 election “had not been rigged,” he could have prevented the war entirely, potentially saving millions of lives in Russia and Ukraine.

Trump made the remarks as he traveled to Israel ahead of the expected release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas on Monday. Of the remaining 48 hostages, 20 are believed to be alive.

The trip comes just over two years after Hamas militants entered Israel from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages.

While speaking to reporters aboard the plane, Trump also declared that “the war is over” between Israel and Hamas, even though Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not made that claim. He added that it is a “very special time,” with Israel and Muslim countries celebrating simultaneously — something he said had “never happened before.”