President Donald Trump returned to the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, delivering remarks about faith and a range of other topics.
The bipartisan gathering is focused on faith and prayer and Trump’s speech Thursday marks the sixth time he has attended the event since taking office. He first attended as president in 2017, and since retaking office last year, he has pledged his administration will call out anti-Christian bias.
“This is a beautiful American tradition, and 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. I don’t have the courage to turn it down,” Trump said.
Many members of Trump’s Cabinet, his inner circle and members of Congress were also in attendance. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo were also at the event.
What did Trump say about getting into heaven?
Trump, who has repeatedly made comments about getting into heaven, spoke about it again at the event.
“The New York Times did a front page story that Donald Trump is questioning his life and the meaning of his life. No, I was just having fun,” he said of his past remarks. “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.”
Trump, who spoke for over an hour, often went off on tangents during his remarks, including comments about not sleeping on planes, first lady Melania Trump’s new movie, national security adviser Tulsi Gabbard in hot water, calling Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., a “moron” for voting against his big, beautiful bill last year, among other things.
He also poked fun at House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., for being a “very religious person” who does not “hide it.”
“He’ll say to me sometimes at lunch, ‘sir, may we pray?’” he said. “Say, excuse me, we’re having lunch.”
“It’s OK with me, but he’s a very religious person and he is popular, and he’s doing an unbelievable job. So, I think God is watching over you. God is watching over him. I don’t know about me, so I hang around with him because I feel unprotected a little bit,” Trump continued.
On why he doesn’t sleep on planes, Trump said, “I don’t sleep on planes. I don’t like sleeping on planes. You know. I like looking out the window, watching for missiles and enemies, actually.”
The remarks come as Trump has tried to put faith and religion at the forefront of White House initiatives. He established the White House Faith Office last February with the intent to “empower faith-based entities” and organizations.
In May, he signed an executive order to establish a presidential Religious Liberty Commission, with former U.S. Housing Secretary Ben Carson, TV talk-show host Phil McGraw and others.
At an event with CEOs and business leaders who donate to faith charities in July, Trump said he believes he won the 2024 election because Democrats were trying to “take God and religion out of your lives.”
There are some faith organizations critical of Trump’s efforts over the last year, especially related to his deportation efforts.