Trump says God is ‘very proud’ of first year, blasts Don Lemon

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he believes God approves of the job he has done during the first year of his second term and condemned former CNN host Don Lemon for recently storming a Minnesota church.

“I think God is very proud of the job I’ve done,” Trump said during a rare appearance in the White House press briefing room to mark the first-year anniversary of his second inauguration.

“And that includes for religion. You know, we’re protecting a lot of people that are being killed — Christians, Jewish people. Lots of people are being protected by me that wouldn’t be protected by another president,” he said.

Trump’s comments came in response to a question that probed him regarding whether he believes God placed him in his position of authority. Trump, whose first term was marked by helping free imprisoned American missionary Andrew Brunson from Turkey, has made religious liberty a major pillar of his presidency.

Since his second term, Trump has established a White House Religious Liberty Commission, and has expressed outrage at how Christians have been treated in countries such as Nigeria, where the U.S. military delivered precision airstrikes against Islamic State militants on Christmas Day.

NOW – Trump: “I think God is very proud of the job I’ve done.” pic.twitter.com/JdYHbq89dc

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 20, 2026

During the lengthy Tuesday briefing that highlighted the achievements of his first year, Trump at first quietly thumbed through a catalogue of illegal immigrants wanted for serious crimes who have been apprehended by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

He claimed the unrest against ICE in cities such as Minneapolis is likely professional. The state’s capital region has been roiled in recent weeks by protests against federal officials after two ICE-involved shootings, including the death of 37-year-old Renee Good.

“These are professional agitators and professional people that want to see our country do badly,” he said. “But that’s not happening, because we have the hottest country anywhere in the world, despite this stuff.”

Trump touched on the recent incident involving Lemon, who stormed Cities Church in St. Paul with a group of left-wing agitators, which has prompted an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for potential violations of federal law.

???? President @realDonaldTrump calls out Don Lemon’s disgraceful targeting of innocent Christians at Mass in Minnesota:

“I saw him the way he walked into that church; it was terrible. I have such respect for that pastor. He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What… pic.twitter.com/wifb4uqaoo

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) January 20, 2026

“These are tough people,” Trump said of the illegal immigrant criminals ICE is apprehending. “So this is what the people are trying to protect, because all ICE wants to do is get them out of our country, bring them to prisons, jails and mental institutions from which they came. That’s all they want to do.”

“They’re patriots, and they have to be abused by guys like Don Lemon, who is a loser lightweight,” Trump continued. “I saw him, the way he walked in that church, it was terrible.”

Trump expressed respect for the Rev. Jonathan Parnell, lead pastor of Cities Church, who calmly asked Lemon and the others to leave the church as Lemon grilled him on the U.S. Constitution and how Jesus would treat the disruptive protesters.

NEW: Don Lemon tries lecturing a pastor on the First Amendment after a mob of far leftists stormed a church in Minneapolis.

Pastor: “This is unacceptable. It’s shameful to interrupt a public gathering of Christians in worship…”

Lemon: “Listen, there’s a constitution, the First… pic.twitter.com/joHdCvaXe6

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) January 18, 2026

“I have such respect for that pastor,” Trump said. “He was so calm, he was so nice. He was just accosted. What they did in that church was horrible [on Sunday].”

A congregant of Cities Church told The Christian Post on Tuesday that they have been advised to avoid speaking with the press amid an ongoing investigation, but Parnell issued an X post Tuesday citing the 1563 Heidelberg Catechism, one of the foundational texts of the Protestant Reformation.

“I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this vale of tears,” Parnell wrote. “He is able to do this because he is almighty God; he desires to do this because he is a faithful Father.”

Trump’s comments about God’s assessment of his presidency come amid speculation in recent months regarding the state of his soul after he prompted concern last summer from some Christian supporters when he appeared to express hope that he could earn a place in paradise if he could successfully ink peace deals.

Last month, Pastor Stuart Knechtle claimed Trump’s 19-year-old son, Barron, is interested in claims of supernatural dreams about Jesus Christ in the Muslim world and is “very close” to becoming a Christian himself.

Striking supernatural dreams and visions of Jesus are especially prevalent in dark regions of the world where persecution is intense and isolating, according to a recent report from the U.S.-based nonprofit watchdog group Open Doors US, which monitors Christian persecution worldwide.