A brief exchange between President Donald Trump and conservative Christian author Eric Metaxas at a Mar-a-Lago wedding has ignited controversy among devout believers who say a critical opportunity to share faith with the president was missed.
The incident unfolded Saturday evening when Trump made an unexpected appearance at the wedding of Mike Wilkerson, founder of the Redemption Group Network, which helps churches develop their ministries.
The 48-year-old groom’s celebration at the exclusive Palm Beach, Florida resort became the backdrop for a conversation that would soon draw sharp criticism from Christians.
Metaxas, a 62-year-old conservative Christian speaker and author, shared video footage of the encounter on X. The clip shows Trump greeting the newlyweds before gesturing toward Metaxas and telling the groom that the radio host is the one who will get him to heaven.
The president’s comment prompted an immediate response from Metaxas, who expressed his desire to have that very conversation with Trump. However, the discussion was quickly cut short.
In the video, Metaxas can be heard shaking Trump’s hand while telling him he would like to discuss the topic of getting to heaven. The Christian author then suggested they have that conversation at another time, citing the wedding as an inappropriate venue for such a serious discussion.
Before concluding the brief exchange, Metaxas reminded Trump of his unique position in history. He referred to the president as “America’s Supercentennial President,” a reference to Trump serving during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration scheduled for July 4, 2026.
Following the encounter, Metaxas defended his decision in his social media post. He wrote that while he would genuinely welcome the opportunity to have an in-depth conversation with Trump about faith, someone’s wedding reception was not the right setting for such a discussion.
That explanation failed to satisfy many devout Christians who viewed the situation differently.
Critics flooded social media with responses questioning why Metaxas passed up what they saw as a God-given opportunity to share his faith with the most powerful man in the country.
One X user expressed disappointment by stating they believe any place is appropriate for sharing the gospel. Another user posed a pointed question to Metaxas, asking if he truly just said he wanted to share the gospel with the president but declined because the setting was inappropriate. The critic suggested Metaxas imagine explaining that decision when standing before Christ at judgment.
A third commenter wrote sarcastically that apparently a wedding reception holds more importance than someone’s eternal salvation. The user added that the matter of Trump’s spiritual destiny could simply wait for a more convenient time.
Some responses suggested Trump has already been exposed to Christian teachings numerous times. One person expressed fear that the president has chosen to reject the truth despite repeated exposure to the gospel message.
Other users focused their criticism on Trump’s comment that Metaxas would be the one to get him into heaven. A commenter pointed out that according to Christian doctrine, Jesus is the only one who can grant entry to heaven, not any human intermediary.
