Overview

• During a Fox & Friends interview on Aug. 19, President Trump said saving “7,000 people a week” by brokering a Russia‑Ukraine deal would help his chances of getting to heaven.
• Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters she believed the president was serious about the comment.
• Talks remain active without a ceasefire or final agreement after Trump met Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15 and Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders in Washington on Aug. 18.
• Reports say Trump phoned Putin during the Washington meetings, and he has since suggested an immediate ceasefire may not be realistic while broader negotiations proceed.
• Trump’s broader claims of helping to settle multiple international conflicts drew renewed scrutiny from outlets noting continued violence in some regions, while his heaven remark triggered wide media reaction and health‑related criticism from opponents.