President Donald Trump has said he would not forgive former FBI Director James Comey or former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, even if doing so meant being denied entry into heaven.
The president made the remarks during an interview with 60 Minutes host Ross Douthat, who questioned whether Trump could find it in his heart to forgive political opponents he has repeatedly criticised.
Trump, who has described himself as a religious person, admitted that he might be unwilling to forgive some of his enemies, even when faced with the prospect of standing before God.
Trump Admits He Cannot Forgive Political Enemies
During the interview, Douthat presented Trump with a hypothetical situation in which forgiveness was the only requirement for entering paradise.
“You’re entering the next life and all you have to do to enter paradise is feel love and forgiveness for James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, anyone who you have expressed hate for over the years.
Do you think you can do it?” the journalist asked.
Trump initially acknowledged that the easiest response would be to say he could forgive them.
However, he said he did not consider it a straightforward question.
“I found them to be extremely dishonest people. Very bad people. Very bad for our country.
I love our country far more than I can love people and people like that,” he responded.
When Douthat pressed him to clarify whether his answer was no, Trump confirmed that he did not believe he could forgive them.
“The answer is no. I want to be honest,” the president said.
Asked whether he would maintain that position even before God’s judgment, Trump replied in the affirmative.
‘I Do Hate Some of My Enemies,’ Trump Says
Trump went further, acknowledging that he still harbours hatred towards some of his political opponents.
“I think they were very bad people and I dislike, I can use the word hate, I do hate some of my enemies.
I think they’ve been terrible. Look what they put me through, the weaponization,” he said.
Douthat challenged the president’s position, pointing to what he described as Trump’s remarkably fortunate and extraordinary life.
The journalist questioned how the president could receive so much in life yet struggle to forgive those he considers his enemies.
“You are telling me that before the judgment throne of God, you couldn’t find it in your heart to forgive some of your enemies?
After all that’s been given to you? Come on, help me out here,” Douthat asked.
Trump maintained his position, saying he did not want to give an answer simply because it would sound more acceptable.
“Can I be honest? I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will,” he said.
Why Trump Holds Comey and Pelosi Responsible
Trump’s hostility towards Comey is connected to the former FBI director’s investigation into alleged links between Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and Russia.
The investigation examined allegations of connections between Trump’s associates and Moscow during his first term.
It did not establish that Trump’s campaign conspired with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.
His disagreements with Pelosi stem largely from her role in the two impeachment proceedings against him during his first presidency.
Pelosi, who served as House Speaker, was instrumental in the impeachment efforts in 2019 and 2021.
Trump Says He Hopes to Enter Heaven
Earlier in the interview, Douthat also asked Trump whether he believed he would go to heaven.
The president responded that he hoped he would, making it clear that he did not want to end up in hell.
“I hope so. I don’t want to go to hell,” Trump said.
He subsequently described himself as a religious person and suggested that his faith gave him reason to believe he could enter heaven.
“I’m a religious person so, in theory, I go to heaven,” he added.
Trump Says His Presidency Should Be Remembered for Making America Great Again
Towards the end of the exchange, Douthat asked Trump how he wanted his presidency to be remembered a century from now.
The journalist framed the question around the president’s legacy, asking what single phrase should define his time in office.
“A hundred years from now, while you’re working out your situation in purgatory, what is the line that your presidency is remembered with?” Douthat asked.
Trump gave a brief response, saying he wanted his administration to be remembered for making America great again.
“That I made America great again,” he replied.
