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Donald Trump’s Heaven? No Room For God

Donald Trump’s Heaven? No Room For God

Last updated on: November 10, 2026 at 1:04 pm by Christy Thomas

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Donald Trump’s Heaven? No Room For God 2026-11-10T13:04:45-05:00 Christy Thomas

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Donald Trump’s heaven would be a place where he sees himself as an equal to God. Trump will submit to no demand to forgive, to repent, to receive forgiveness himself or to do anything in any way that might mean he stands on the same footing as those he despises, either Democrats, people he perceives as disloyal Republicans or perhaps those coming from one of his so-called “shithole” countries.

Donald Trump's Heaven

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What WILL heaven be like? As a former pastor, many have asked me that question, and I’ve asked it of myself and other theologians.

The Bible gives very little concrete information—mostly metaphorical hints. Some theologians wonder if the concept of heaven is simply a human construct to help reduce the fear that many have of death and a final extinction. It can indeed be comforting to sense that there is a “better place” for us after the many challenges of living in the world.

Life has never been easy. Throughout history, wars, disease, unrelenting poverty, plagues, famines, volcanoes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and simply neighbor hating neighbor have characterized human existence. Until recently, a large percentage of children died before their fifth birthday; women routinely died in childbirth. While it may now be more common for women to outlive their husbands, historically, men had multiple wives simply because the previous ones died in childbirth.

Yes, life is tough. The idea of heaven, a place of light-filled bliss, absolute mercy, no corruption, no power plays, no worry, delightful abundance, loving, non-conflictual relationships, is truly appealing. Who would not want that?

Well, I’ll tell you who:

Anyone who needs power over others to feel good about themselves will find this concept of heaven deeply distasteful.
Anyone who refuses to pave the way for others to enter Paradise cannot enter that space themselves.
Anyone who thinks that being a “religious person” is all it takes and can freely carry hatred and grudges into heaven will see the door firmly slammed in their face.

And yes, Donald Trump, I’m talking to you.

Here’s the deal: God, and when I use the term “God,” I mean that mysterious, infinite Holy One whose existence is so far beyond human comprehension that anything we say about God has to be both extraordinarily limited and likely way off the mark, holds whatever keys there are to entrance into the place of eternal, cosmic, beyond-our-comprehension perfect love.

In my years of trying to sort this out, I’ve come to this conclusion: without deep humility and true repentance, none of us has a chance.

If we insist that we get to hold to whatever inevitably limited concept of God we have, such as “Only people who believe as I do get in,” the door to heaven just slammed shut.
If we insist that our way is right and those who disagree are wrong, that we need no cleansing mercy or forgiveness, and that we need to offer none to others, then the key to that holy space will never sit firmly in our hands.
If we insist that we can hold hatred toward others in our hearts and still walk into the luminous presence of God, we are delusional at best, and at worst, on an indelible road to hell.

I listened to the full CBS interview where Mr. Trump stated, “I’m a religious person, so in theory I go to heaven,” and then added that he would not forgive those who have opposed him or release his hatred of them.

I heard his braggadocio when he declared that, had he been President, the Russia/Ukrainian war would not have happened. In fact, when listening to him, one would think that if he were made President for eternity, nothing bad would ever happen to anyone—or at least anyone who has never disagreed with him or sought to hold him to account.

In other words, Trump sees himself in many ways as an equal to God. Trump will submit to no demand to forgive, to repent, to receive forgiveness himself or to do anything in any way that might mean he stands on the same footing as those he despises, either Democrats, people he perceives as disloyal Republicans or perhaps those coming from one of his so-called “shithole” countries.

One like this cannot enter into the blinding light of total truth and perfect holiness. Why? In Donald Trump’s heaven, there is no room for God.

Entrance to the holy spaces, like it or not, is reserved for those who will take their enemies by hand and say, “Please, enter before me and eat at the feast prepared for you.”

Entrance is reserved for those who know they don’t deserve to be welcomed by true light and holiness but who gratefully receive the grace poured out upon them as they gracefully pour it out on everyone else.

But Donald Trump’s heaven would be filled with grudges, backbiting, refusal both to forgive and to receive forgiveness, greed, selfishness, and an absolute refusal to help anyone who does not toady up to him. In other words, Donald’s heaven is everyone else’s hell. Frankly, Donald Trump’s heaven leaves no room for a Holy and Merciful God, only one of vengeance and hatred. In other words, a “god” of Trump’s own making.

Several years ago, as the Southern Baptists intensified their push to eliminate all women from positions of ecclesiastical leadership, I wrote this piece, “Their Heaven is Your Hell.” In it, I asked readers to imagine what heaven for women, who in Southern Baptist theology are forever less than men, would be like for them. In other words, will it be heaven for women if they must remain second-class, unable to use their gifts and talents simply because of their femaleness?

Honestly, I don’t see any difference here. If Donald’s version of heaven, where he gets in free to continue to hate and denigrate others, is correct, it is the definition of hell for any of us who refuse to bend the knee for him. Conversely, if Jesus’s version of heaven, where the least of these get the greatest honor, is correct, then it is hell for Donald.

I, personally, choose Jesus’ version.

That said, I must not refuse to hold the door for Donald, should he indeed choose humility and repentance and seek entrance. If I do, then I deserve to be cast out.

Yeah, I don’t think entrance to heaven will be particularly easy. But I do think the invitation to enter will always be there for anyone who chooses to receive the offer.

It’s simply this: receiving the gift of heaven means relinquishing all grudges, hatreds, disparagements, and any sense of superiority toward any other human being. It’s ours for the taking—but only those with empty hands, free from greed; empty hearts, freed of hatred; and empty souls, freed of grudges—can receive the gifts awaiting us in heaven.

Politics and Religion

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About Christy Thomas

The Thoughtful Pastor is one woman’s way of making sense of the world, particularly the intersecting worlds of religion, business, and politics. I think, question, and connect odd dots. I find delight in ambiguity and mystery, and find little tolerance for those who call themselves people of God and then use that self-description as a way to abuse others. You can read more about the author here.

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