Trump says he could not forgive certain enemies for entry into heaven

President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he could not forgive certain political rivals, even if doing so was the price of admission to heaven. The comments appeared in an interview with Ross Douthat that aired on 60 Minutes on November 8.

The conversation focused on religion and the president’s views on his adversaries. Trump described himself as religious and acknowledged that he likely would go to heaven after his death. Douthat then posed a hypothetical scenario. He asked if Trump could enter paradise if he first had to feel genuine love and forgiveness for people he had publicly despised.

Douthat cited former FBI Director James Comey and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as examples of such opponents. Trump questioned whether the forgiveness would be authentic in that situation. He characterized the individuals as deeply dishonest and harmful to the nation. When Douthat pressed for a definitive answer, Trump said he could not meet the condition.

Douthat noted that Trump’s life had been exceptionally fortunate. He asked if the president could find forgiveness for his enemies when facing God’s judgment. Trump responded that he probably could not. He offered a brief explanation: "I do hate some of my enemies, and I always will."

The exchange highlighted the personal nature of Trump’s conflicts with figures who have faced legal action during his second term. Three individuals who have drawn his anger are currently facing or have faced federal indictments. These include Comey, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and former national security adviser John Bolton.

Comey led the initial investigation into ties between Trump and Russia. The Justice Department indicted him in September 2025. A second indictment followed in April 2026, stemming from an Instagram post. James faced charges of bank fraud and false statements to a financial institution, though a judge dismissed both counts.

Bolton, a first-term advisor who has called for war with Iran, was successfully prosecuted for retaining classified information. His sentencing is scheduled for next month.