On 60 Minutes, Ross Douthat asked him whether, if all he had to do to enter paradise was forgive James Comey, Nancy Pelosi, and the others he has hated, he could do it. Trump’s answer: “The answer is no. I want to be honest, no.” Pressed again, before the judgment throne of God: “I probably cannot do that, no, because I do hate some of my enemies and I always will.” Eric Sammons argues that an honest pagan is better than a fake Christian (what most American politicians are and have been). There’s virtue in honesty, even when you’re wrong, and God can work with that. But being an honest pagan isn’t enough. Forgiving our enemies is hard, but for a Christian it isn’t optional.
Eric covers:
- The honest pagan: three ways to answer Douthat’s question, and why the honest “no” beats the fake “yes”
- Catholics vs. Evangelicals: does Trump have to forgive Pelosi to get to heaven? Matthew 6:14-15, the Our Father, and Catechism 2838-2840 vs. the “faith alone” answer
- This isn’t new: “Arthur, I don’t know if I agree with you” at the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast, and telling Frank Luntz in 2015 he wasn’t sure he’d ever asked God for forgiveness
- What Trump has said about his faith: “Two Corinthians,” becoming a “non-denominational Christian,” and “God alone” after Butler
- A pagan with a Bible: three marriages, Stormy Daniels, the St. John’s Church Bible photo op, the $59.99 “God Bless the USA” Bible, and Paula White-Cain
- Does it matter for a president? The Cyrus argument and “commander-in-chief, not pastor,” against the scandal of Christians baptizing his refusal to forgive
- The Catholic answer: pray for his conversion, but “Put not your trust in princes” (Ps 146:3)
📖 The Catholic Guide to Artificial Intelligence: https://ericsammons.com/product/the-catholic-guide-to-artificial-intelligence/
Referenced:
- 60 Minutes, Ross Douthat interviews President Trump: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/could-trump-forgive-his-opponents-60-minutes/
- CBS News, full transcript of the Douthat interview: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/read-the-full-transcript-of-ross-douthats-interview-with-president-trump/
- Eric Sammons on X, on Trump’s honest answer: https://x.com/EricRSammons/status/2119770568127926701
- Eric Sammons on X, “Forgiving your enemies is hard”: https://x.com/EricRSammons/status/2119780326314512396
- Trump at the 2020 National Prayer Breakfast: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/remarks-the-national-prayer-breakfast-38
- Arthur Brooks on the Prayer Breakfast disagreement: https://www.aei.org/commentary/trump-and-i-disagreed-at-the-national-prayer-breakfast-but-we-listened-to-each-other/
- CNN, Trump and Frank Luntz on forgiveness (2015): https://www.cnn.com/2015/07/18/politics/trump-has-never-sought-forgiveness
- Politico, “Two Corinthians” at Liberty University: https://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-liberty-university-bible-217938
- RNS, Trump now identifies as a non-denominational Christian: https://religionnews.com/2020/10/23/exclusive-trump-confirmed-a-presbyterian-now-identifies-as-non-denominational-christian/
- CNN, Trump credits God after Butler: https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/15/politics/rally-shooting-aftermath-trump-god
- AP, the “God Bless the USA” Bible: https://apnews.com/article/trump-god-bless-usa-bible-greenwood-2713fda3efdfa297d0f024efb1ca3003
- White House Faith Office appointments: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/president-trump-announces-appointments-to-the-white-house-faith-office/
- Christian Post, Franklin Graham’s letter to Trump: https://www.christianpost.com/news/trump-shares-letter-from-franklin-graham-urging-faith-repentance.html
- Catechism 2838-2845, on “as we forgive those who trespass against us”: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/683/
Thumbnail photo credits:
- President Donald J. Trump at St. John’s Church, June 1, 2020: The White House (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons
- Background: Nancy Pelosi, official 2019 Speaker portrait by John Harrington (public domain); James Comey, official FBI portrait (public domain); via Wikimedia Commons
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