President Donald Trump has made a strange and self-deprecating comment about his hope of reaching heaven.
During a conversation with Fox & Friends, the 79-year-old joked that if he were able to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, it could help him secure a spot in heaven.
“If I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s pretty - I want to try to get to heaven if possible,” Trump said, per The Independent. “I’m hearing that I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole," adding: "But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons."
When asked by the press whether there was a spiritual motivation behind his push for peace, Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified the president’s remarks.
“I think the president was serious. I think the president wants to get to heaven - as I hope we all do in this room as well," per The New York Times.
The president - who is a practicing non-denominational Christian - has often discussed his faith, but his latest statement appeared more focused on personal reflection.
His strange rant came just a day after hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House alongside several European leaders, as part of his ongoing push to end the war that has been ravaging Ukraine since 2022.
Trump, who has often expressed a desire to win a Nobel Peace Prize, has made ending the conflict a central part of his foreign policy efforts, though he has struggled to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
In a meeting with Vladimir Putin last week in Alaska, he discussed peace efforts, despite the Russian President's reluctance to engage in meaningful talks.
While Trump expressed hope that the leader was open to negotiations, Putin has made it clear that Russia will not initiate a ceasefire, a critical point in the ongoing negotiations.
Trump has also suggested that any potential peace agreement could involve territorial concessions from Ukraine, which remains a contentious topic.
In a separate conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron during the summit with NATO and EU leaders, Trump - who was unaware of the microphone - made an unexpected remark about Putin.
“I think he wants to make a deal,” he said, referring to the Russian leader, per The Independent. “I think he wants to make a deal for me. Do you understand? As crazy as it sounds.”
The remark about a potential deal raised eyebrows, with some questioning whether Trump’s personal interests could influence U.S. foreign policy towards Russia.
However, the president has long touted his relationship with Putin, saying, "I’ve known him for a long time, I’ve always had a great relationship with him."
Despite the lack of a formal agreement from their August summit, the US leader continues to push for a resolution to the war.