EXTRA: I'm not sure I'll make heaven, says Trump

US President Donald Trump pondered his afterlife destination while reflecting on his recent diplomatic achievements in the Middle East.

Trump has basked in global applause for his role in bringing the two-year devastating war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza to a grinding halt.

So far, hostages from both sides have been released, bringing long-awaited reunions for many families.

Ending globals wars was part of Trump’s presidential pledge.

While the Middle Eastern conflict appears to have abated, Russia’s war in Ukraine rages on.

In August, Trump had high hopes of making heaven. He was sure ending the war in Ukraine would earn him a spot behind the pearly gates.

“I want to try to get to heaven, if possible,” Trump said.

“I’m hearing I’m not doing well. I am really at the bottom of the totem pole. But if I can get to heaven, this will be one of the reasons,” he added, explaining his efforts to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia.

On Monday, en route Israel, ahead of the handing over of the first Israeli hostages, the US president had a different view about his eternal destination.

When a reporter reminded Trump that he once said brokering a Ukrainian peace deal could earn him a place in eternity and asked whether the Gaza agreement would suffice, he replied with a chuckle: “I’m being a little cute, I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven.

“I think I’m maybe not heaven-bound. I may be in heaven right now as we fly in Air Force One. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven, but I’ve made life a lot better for a lot of people.”

Trump doubled down on his claim that he could have prevented the Russian invasion “had the election of 2020 not been rigged”.

“I knew Putin very well, I was the apple of his eye. All the things that I’ve said never would have happened,” he added.

Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin had a historic meeting in Alaska over the protracted war.

It was their first face-to-face meeting between the pair since July 2018 in Helsinki.

Despite high expectations, the talks ended without an agreement, dampening hopes of a breakthrough.