President Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance at a wedding celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, November 14, where he sparked attention with remarks about his prospects for entering heaven. The 79-year-old president crashed the private wedding of investment banker Mike Wilkerson, founder of Stormwall, turning a brief greeting into an unusual exchange about the afterlife.
Video footage shared on social media captured Trump greeting the newlyweds before he noticed conservative author and radio host Eric Metaxas in the ballroom. The 62-year-old host of “Socrates in the City” became the focus of Trump’s attention as the president reached out to shake his hand.
“He’s going to get me into heaven,” Trump told the bride and groom while gesturing toward Metaxas. The comment prompted an immediate response from the radio host, who attempted to redirect the conversation away from such weighty theological matters at what was meant to be a joyous celebration.
According to Metaxas, who shared the video on Instagram, he replied to Trump’s declaration with a measured response. “I want to talk to him about getting into heaven… but not here. Not here,” Metaxas said in the footage. The exchange highlighted Trump’s ongoing public contemplation about his eternal destination, a topic he has raised multiple times in recent months.
In his Instagram post describing the encounter, Metaxas explained his reasoning for deflecting the president’s attempt at a deeper conversation. “Truthfully, I would love to have that conversation with him one day. But this wasn’t the place,” he wrote. The author and host of “Socrates in the City,” a program that explores questions about life, God, and faith, also reminded Trump during the exchange that he is “America’s Supercentennial President.”
Before turning his attention to Metaxas, Trump had commented on the newlyweds’ appearance. According to sources, he announced he would use the couple in a hotel advertisement, praising their looks. Such surprise appearances at private events held at his properties have become a familiar pattern for Trump, who frequently visits Mar-a-Lago when not occupied with official duties.
Trump’s comments at the wedding reflect a pattern of public statements about heaven that dates back several months. In August, reports indicate the president mentioned his desire to reach heaven during a phone interview, suggesting that brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine might help his chances. He expressed uncertainty about his standing, claiming he was “at the bottom of the totem pole” when it came to heavenly prospects.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed Trump’s August comments during a briefing, stating she believed the president’s remarks were serious rather than joking. However, Trump’s own characterization of his statements has varied depending on the context and audience.
On October 12, while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump offered a different perspective on his earlier heaven-related comments. He acknowledged he had been “being a little cute” with his previous statements. Trump said he didn’t think there was anything that would get him into heaven, adding that he was “not maybe heaven-bound.” He even suggested he might already be in heaven while flying on the presidential aircraft.
The president later claimed he was being sarcastic when making statements about not qualifying for heaven. During an interview with Fox News, Trump explained that his comments were meant to be funny and that people had taken them “totally literally.” He expressed uncertainty about his ultimate fate, acknowledging he didn’t know whether he would or wouldn’t make it to heaven.
According to sources, Trump’s campaign even incorporated the heaven theme into fundraising efforts. Emails sent to supporters requested $15 donations during what was described as a “24-HOUR TRUMP FUNDRAISING BLITZ.” The emails reportedly read, “I want to try and get to Heaven,” though Trump later characterized such statements as sarcastic.
Metaxas told media outlets he has encountered Trump on several occasions and that the president consistently claims to watch his show regularly. The “Socrates in the City” program focuses on exploring fundamental questions about existence, faith, and meaning. Metaxas speculated that Trump’s awareness of his Christian faith and discussions about it on the show likely prompted the president’s comment about needing help getting to heaven.
The wedding appearance fits a broader pattern of Trump making surprise visits to private events at his properties. Such unannounced arrivals allow the president to interact with supporters and guests in informal settings, though they sometimes result in unexpected moments like the heaven-focused exchange at Wilkerson’s wedding. The investment banker’s celebration became yet another venue for Trump to publicly wrestle with questions about mortality and the afterlife, themes that have emerged repeatedly in his recent public statements despite his claims of being sarcastic.
