President Donald Trump jokingly said he would continue to attend the annual National Prayer Breakfast in Washington because he needed divine assistance as the leader of the free world.
“It’s a true honor to be back with so many incredible leaders and people of faith at the National Prayer Breakfast. I think I’ve been here just about every time. It’s hard to turn it down, and I don’t have the courage to turn it down. Sometimes I want to,” Trump said to laughter at the Thursday morning event.
Trump recounted an anecdote about aides previously preparing him for his speech to the National Prayer Breakfast after he returned from a trip at 4 a.m. “I said, ‘I’ll be there. I’m afraid not to be, I need all the help I can get,’” he added, drawing more laughter and applause.
Trump’s comments follow his remarks to Fox News in October 2025 that he was unsure he would make it into heaven but was hoping that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine would help his case with God.
“You know, I’m being a little cute — I don’t there’s anything going to get me in heaven,” he told Peter Doocy on Air Force One. “I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound.”
Trump lightly ribbed the New York Times for covering his past remarks about getting into heaven.
“The New York Times did a front-page story that Donald Trump is questioning his life and the meaning of his life,” Trump said. “I was just having fun. I really think I probably should make it. 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.”
Trump’s contemplation of where he will go in the afterlife stands in contrast to his worldly focus on his 2020 election loss and 2024 victory over Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.
“They rigged the second election,” Trump said at the National Prayer Breakfast, referring to the official results of the 2020 race. “I had to win it. I had to win it. I needed it for my own ego. I would’ve had a bad ego for the rest of my life. Now I really have a big ego.”
Despite his misgivings about his own soul, Trump was unequivocal to the crowd of religious supporters: “Religion’s back now, hotter than ever before.”
The president also attacked politicians who eschew religion, claiming that “some major politicians refuse to say the word ‘God.’ They don’t want to say it. I say it.”
“You have to have religion,” Trump added. “You have to have it. You have to have faith. You have to have God. And thankfully, as we gather today, there are many signs that religion is coming back.”
Religious conservatives make up a strong core of Trump’s base, and he sought to appease attendees by declaring May 17 a day for Americans to descend on the National Mall to pray and rededicate themselves as “one nation under God.”
But the president did not only speak about religion during his remarks. He also used his speech to deny allegations that the Justice Department is seeking retribution against critics, including protesters in Minnesota who have clashed with federal immigration authorities. Former CNN host Don Lemon was among the journalists arrested after covering protests in Minnesota.
“The Department of Justice recently charged nine individuals from performing a church in Minnesota during a worship service and trampling on Americans’ First Amendment grants,” Trump said. “I watched that tape. You know that was violent.”
Trump described protesters yelling at worshippers, comparing them to Nazis, and claimed their actions have “got to be illegal.”
“I mean, [Attorney General] Pam [Bondi] is doing it. I’m not doing it, but Pam is doing it, and I’ll tell you, people are happy with the job that’s taking place, because they’re bad people,” Trump said about the arrests.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem continues to receive Trump’s public support after two American citizens were killed in Minnesota.
“I did the Super Bowl interview,” Trump said about his interview with NBC News, recorded on Wednesday. “‘Sir, are you going to relieve Kristi Noem of her duties?’ ‘No.’”
“I said, ‘Why would I do that?’” he added. “‘We have the strongest border in the history of our country. We have the best crime numbers we’ve ever had.’”
Several foreign dignitaries were in attendance at the 74th National Prayer Breakfast, including Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, whom Trump praised.
“We’re also delighted to welcome visiting leaders and dignitaries for more than 110 countries,” Trump said. “They’re here, and clearly one of my favorite people, President Bukele of El Salvador. He has been so incredible. He has been such a great ally of this country, such a great ally.”
“Some of you said he operates rather large prisons,” Trump continued. “They do a very humane job, but they’re very strong prisons, and we present a lot of the people that we capture, the murderers, the drug dealers, the people that came into our country illegally and have already committed massive crimes.”
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But as Trump began to wind down his remarks, he returned once again to his religious existential crisis.
“Just in closing, scriptures … tell us that blessed are the pure in heart,” he said. “I don’t know a better place, to me, necessarily. I’m not so sure. Does that apply to me? I’m not sure I try.”