Overview

• Responding to Fox News’ Peter Doocy aboard Air Force One en route to Israel, the president said he doesn’t think there’s “anything” that will get him into heaven.
• The White House distributed audio of the exchange, and clips circulated widely on social platforms and YouTube.
• The remarks follow August comments linking peacemaking to “getting to heaven,” language later echoed in campaign fundraising emails that aides said were sincere.
• During the flight he declared “the war is over” and again called the 2020 election “rigged,” asserting the Russia‑Ukraine war would not have occurred if he had remained in office.
• Under the ceasefire’s first phase, Hamas released all 20 of the last living Israeli hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, while longer‑term arrangements for Gaza remain unsettled.