President Donald Trump made an unexpected appearance at a wedding celebration at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Friday, November 14, turning what was meant to be a private ceremony into an unusual discussion about his prospects for entering heaven.
The 79-year-old president crashed the wedding reception of investment banker and Stormwall founder Mike Wilkerson, greeting the newlyweds before becoming distracted by a familiar face in the crowd. Upon spotting conservative author and radio host Eric Metaxas among the wedding guests, Trump pointed at him and declared to those nearby that Metaxas would be the one to secure his entry into heaven.
According to sources, Trump shook Metaxas’ hand and told the bride and groom that the 62-year-old host of “Socrates in the City” was going to get him into heaven. Metaxas, caught off guard by the theological turn of conversation at his friend’s wedding, politely declined to engage in the discussion at that moment, telling the president he wanted to talk about getting into heaven but noted it wasn’t the appropriate time or place.
Metaxas later shared video footage of the exchange on social media, writing that Trump had pointed at him as he walked in and joked about him being the person who would help him reach the afterlife. The conservative radio host explained that while he would genuinely welcome such a conversation with the president someday, a wedding reception was not the suitable venue for that kind of serious discussion.
During his appearance at the celebration, Trump also commented on the newlyweds’ appearance, calling them a good-looking couple. According to sources, he joked about taking their photo and using it in a hotel advertisement, demonstrating his characteristic tendency to blend personal moments with business promotion even at private events.
This is far from the first time Trump has made public comments about his concerns regarding entry into heaven. Back in August, during a phone interview with Fox & Friends, the president suggested that brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine might help his chances. He mentioned wanting to try to get to heaven if possible, adding that he had heard he wasn’t doing well in that regard and was at the bottom of the totem pole. Trump expressed that if he could save 7,000 people per week from being killed through peace negotiations, it would be one of the reasons he might gain entry.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later clarified during her briefing that day that she believed Trump’s comments were serious rather than joking, expressing that she thought the president genuinely wanted to reach heaven, as she hoped everyone in the room did as well.
However, Trump later attempted to walk back the severity of his statements. On October 12, while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Trump claimed he had been “a little cute” with his previous remarks. He stated he didn’t think there was anything that would get him into heaven, emphasizing that he really didn’t believe he was heaven-bound. Trump even quipped that he might already be in heaven while flying on Air Force One, though he wasn’t sure he would be able to make it to the actual afterlife, adding that he had made life better for many people.
The president revisited the topic again in November, telling Fox News host Laura Ingraham that he had been sarcastic when making his previous statements about heaven. Trump insisted that people had taken his words “totally literally” when he was simply being funny. He acknowledged that being sarcastic can be problematic for politicians, explaining that he was kidding and having fun when he suggested he wouldn’t qualify for heaven. Despite his insistence that the comments were jokes, Trump admitted he genuinely didn’t know whether he would make it to heaven or not.
Trump’s tendency to appear uninvited at Mar-a-Lago weddings has become something of a pattern. According to sources, he crashed a wedding at the Florida resort in 2021 where he discussed Iran with guests. Two years later in 2023, he appeared at a wedding celebration at his New Jersey golf club just hours after pleading not guilty to charges related to alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election result.
Metaxas, who has become a prominent Trump supporter despite earlier doubts, hosts a radio show that explores what he describes as “the Big Questions” regarding life, God, and other significant topics. He has authored numerous works, including more than 30 children’s books, two of which focus on Trump with titles including “Donald Builds the Wall” and “Donald Drains the Swamp.” According to sources, Metaxas allegedly punched an anti-Trump protester in 2020.
The wedding venue itself, Mar-a-Lago, serves as both Trump’s private residence and a members-only club where he frequently hosts events and makes impromptu appearances at gatherings held on the property. The resort has become a central hub for Trump’s activities and social interactions since he left office after his first term and returned for his second presidency.
Wilkerson, whose wedding Trump attended, is known for his work in investment banking and as the founder of Stormwall. His connection to conservative circles made his Mar-a-Lago celebration a natural gathering place for right-leaning figures, though the groom likely didn’t anticipate his ceremony would become a platform for presidential musings on eternal salvation.
