Moments before mediating a peace deal between Israel and Hamas, President Trump responded to a question as to whether or not he is Heaven-bound. “I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in Heaven. I think I’m maybe not Heaven-bound. I may be in Heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make Heaven,” he told reporters on Air Force One, saying he was being “a little cute.” President Trump had made a similar claim on August 19 while he discussed trying to end the current war between Russia and Ukraine. “I want to try and get to Heaven if possible. I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I hear I’m really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to Heaven, this will be one of the reasons,” he told Fox & Friends.

Christian supporters of  President Trump were quick to address his comments, worried that they presented a “works-based” approach to salvation. “Reconciliation with God can’t be earned by anyone,” wrote Seth Dillon, founder of the Christian satire site, Babylon Bee. “Salvation is a gift, offered by grace to the whole world and received by faith in Jesus Christ.” Babylon also issued an article entitled “God Agrees To Let Trump Into Heaven If He Repents Of His Sin And Trusts In Jesus Christ Alone For Salvation.” “According to the angelic hosts, the Lord had mercifully declined Trump’s wish to have his merits weighed against his faults, instead offering His only begotten Son as the spotless sacrifice for Trump’s sins,” the site wrote, adding that “The Lord’s grace is sufficient.” “Heavenly sources confirmed that no one throughout history who trusted in their own goodness has been able to enter the presence of the Holy of Holies,” it added. “At publishing time, reliable sources had confirmed that the Lord’s offer was available, at this very moment, to all mankind.”

One of Trump’s critics, writing for Bulwark, saw Trump’s concern about being Heaven-bound a positive thing. “Don’t mess with a good thing,” warned Will Saletan. “Trump may not care about human rights, the Constitution, or the rule of law. He may be incapable of imagining a deity more important than himself. But he does care about external validation: ratings, crowd size, and the Nobel Peace Prize. And increasingly, it sounds like the big prize he wants is heaven.

If the prospect of that reward can motivate him to do his best, or at least limit his worst, let’s go with it. Heaven help us.”

President Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr, differed with the President’s assertion at a recent press conference. “You didn’t believe you were gonna get to heaven…YOU are doing GOD’S WORK here!” he said, eliciting a smile from the President. “”ou’ve made peace in the Middle East…and now, you’re giving millions of Americans a chance to have babies. You’re doing this while the government is locked down, by the Democrats. This is because of your energy, commitment and vision. And I want to thank you for allowing me to be part of it.”