President Donald Trump said he hopes to go to heaven when he dies — but admitted he does not want to go to hell — during a “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, November 8. The conversation, conducted by Ross Douthat, turned to eternity after Trump reflected on surviving multiple assassination attempts.

“Well, I’m a religious person, so in theory, I go to heaven,” Trump said when Douthat asked what he believes happens after death. Pressed on whether he believes he will go to heaven, the president answered, “Uh, I hope so. I don’t want to go to hell.”

It is not the first time Trump has spoken publicly about his eternal destination, and his answers have varied. In 2024, he told Fox News host Laura Ingraham, “If I’m good, I’m going to heaven. And if I’m bad, I’m going to someplace else, like over there.” Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One in 2025, he said, “I don’t think there’s anything [that’s] gonna get me into heaven, okay? I really don’t. I think I’m not, maybe, heaven bound.” Earlier this year, at the National Prayer Breakfast, he struck a more confident note, saying, “I really think I probably should make it [to heaven]. I mean, I’m not a perfect candidate, but I did a hell of a lot of good for perfect people. That’s for sure.”

The “60 Minutes” conversation then turned to forgiveness, and to remarks Trump made at the memorial service for Charlie Kirk. Douthat recalled that Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, had spoken at the service about the importance of Christian forgiveness, including forgiving one’s enemies. Trump, by contrast, told those gathered at the memorial, “I hate my opponents, and I don’t want the best for them.”

Douthat put a direct question to the president: if entering heaven required him to forgive political opponents, including James Comey and Nancy Pelosi, could he do it?

“Well, then I wouldn’t be real, would I?” Trump responded. “I mean, if I said to you, sure, the easy answer to that [is], ‘Oh, yes, I could forgive.’” He went on to explain why he struggles with the idea, calling those he named “extremely dishonest people” and “very bad people,” and saying, “I love our country far more than I can love people, and people like that.”

When Douthat pressed him for a direct answer, Trump said, “The answer is no. I want to be honest.” He added, “Before the judgement [throne of God]. No, I think they were very bad people. And I dislike — I can use the word hate. I do hate some of my enemies. I think they’ve been terrible. Look what they put me through.”

Douthat asked once more, noting Trump’s remarkable life and asking how he could stand before God’s judgment throne unable to forgive some of his enemies. “I mean, it’s such an easy answer. All I have to do is say, ‘Yes, I can,’” Trump replied. “Honestly, can I be honest? I probably cannot do that now, because I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will.”

When the interview closed, Douthat asked Trump what he hopes his presidency will be remembered for. “That I made America great again,” the president replied without hesitation.

After the interview aired, evangelist Franklin Graham shared his thoughts on social media, drawing attention to Trump’s comments about eternity. “Toward the end of the interview, they talked about something far more important than politics,” Graham posted on X.

Graham, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Samaritan’s Purse, then explained what he believes the Bible teaches about entering heaven. “But Heaven has borders. Heaven has unique and very strict entrance requirements,” Graham wrote. “To enter Heaven, the Bible tells us that you must acknowledge your sins, turn from them in repentance, and receive Jesus Christ by faith.”

He continued, “That means, believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, that He paid the penalty for your sins by dying on a cross, was buried in a tomb, raised to life on the third day, and walked out of that tomb. He’s alive!”

Graham closed his post by stressing that religious identification does not save anyone. “Religion can’t save you — only a relationship with the Savior, Jesus Christ, can save you,” Graham said. “Do you have that assurance?”