ChatGPT 4o:

Trump’s statement seems to convey a rambling attempt at explaining the moral influence of religion. He’s essentially saying that religion motivates people to be good because of the belief in an afterlife (heaven). Without that belief, he suggests, people might wonder why they should behave well at all. He struggles to articulate the idea clearly, repeatedly circling back to the notion that the promise of heaven is a reason to be good.

In simpler terms, he seems to be saying: Religion gives people a reason to strive for goodness because it offers the reward of heaven. Without that, people might question why they should bother being good.

o1-preview (the fancy dancy reasoning one):

Certainly! In this statement, Donald Trump is emphasizing the importance of religion in promoting moral behavior. He suggests that religion gives people a reason to be good because it introduces the concept of heaven as a reward for good deeds. Without the belief in heaven or an afterlife, he implies that people might question the purpose of being good and could potentially disregard moral standards. Essentially, he's arguing that religion and the promise of heaven motivate individuals to behave ethically.

That's NYT's schtick!