Donald Trump in The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by David Brody & Scott Lamb
On Abortion:
Increased programs and funds covered by Mexico City policy
One of his very first acts [as President] was reinstating the pro-life "Mexico City Policy," requiring nongovernmental organizations to agree not to "perform nor actively promote abortion as a method of family planning in other nations".
But in typical Trump fashion, he went bigger and bolder by significantly increasing the amount of global health assistance funds and government programs that would be covered under the policy.
In another significant move,
Trump signed a resolution into law that gives states the ability to withhold federal dollars from facilities that provide abortions.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.271
Feb 3, 2018
On Crime:
Civil liberties end when an attack on our safety begins
In 1989, a woman was raped, beaten, and left for dead in Central Park. Five young minority men were arrested. Trump took out a full page ad in all the New York papers, to urge for the toughest penalties on the accused: "Bring back the death penalty!
Bring back our police!" He seemed to be incensed over the crime itself and the response from City Hall: "Mayor Koch has stated that hate and rancor should be removed from our hearts. I do not think so. I want to hate these muggers and murderers.
They should be forced to suffer. Yes, Mayor Koch, I want to hate these murderers and I always will. How can our great society tolerate the continued brutalization of its citizens by crazed misfits?
Criminals must be told that their CIVIL LIBERTIES END WHEN AN ATTACK ON OUR SAFET BEGINS!
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.124-125
Feb 3, 2018
On Foreign Policy:
We're going to protect Christianity abroad; it's under siege
Trump spoke on his "Make America Great Again" campaign themes, but also added a new line: "We're going to protect Christianity. And I can say that. I don't have to be politically correct." He mentioned, "what's going on throughout the world"--and
referred to "Syria, where if you're Christian, they're chopping off heads. Christianity, it's under siege."
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p. 180
Feb 3, 2018
On Government Reform:
We don't worship government; we worship God
TRUMP: America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of believers. When the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, they prayed.
When the founders wrote the declaration of independence, they invoked our creator four times, because in America we don't worship government, we worship God.
That is why our elected officials put their hands on the bible and say "so help me God" as they take the oath of office. It is why our currency proudly declares "in God we trust".
And it's why we proudly proclaim that we are one nation under God, every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.302-3
Feb 3, 2018
On Government Reform:
Opposes Johnson Amendment barring clergy endorsements
The next day in the Rose Garden, President Trump stood with religious leaders, including representatives from Little Sisters of the Poor, and signed the Presidential Executive Order Promoting
Free Speech and Religious Liberty--looking to kickstart the fulfillment of his campaign promise to put an end to the Johnson Amendment and to ensure religious freedom.
In my Oval Office interview with President Trump, he recognized that executive action on the Johnson Amendment is only the beginning. "Now we want to go through Congress and make it permanent,"
Trump said. "But we've knocked it, and that was a horrible thing. They're not allowed to get involved, they're not allowed to have any say as to where the country has gone."
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.308-309
Feb 3, 2018
On Homeland Security:
Terrorists do not worship God; they worship death
It seemed fitting that President Trump would give his signature speech to gulf nations at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center. For Trump, it was an opportunity to shoot straight,, not mince words, and throw
God squarely in the center of all things. Try these statements on for size: "Terrorists do not worship God, they worship death,"
Trump exclaimed. "Every time a terrorist murders an innocent person and invokes the name of God, it should be an insult to every person of faith." And his message to would be terrorists had a bold meaning centered on the afterlife.
If you choose the life of terror, your life will be empty, your life will be brief, and your soul will be condemned!"
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.293
Feb 3, 2018
On Immigration:
So proud I got the dialogue started on illegal immigration
[Trump was asked] about the statement he made one month earlier: "Don't you feel you went to far in what you call Mexicans coming across the boarder?""Not at all. No, not at all." Trump said again to applause.
Two things.
I am so proud of the fact that I got a dialogue started on illegal immigration. And people in the media, in all fairness, they were very rough on me that first week, and now many of them have apologized to me.
And almost everybody, because it turned out I was right. Beautiful Kate who was shot by an illegal who was here five times, and they couldn't do anything about it, and believe me, Mexico kept pushing him back, because they didn't want him.
Believe me, that's true. And now everybody is saying Trump was right. But I tell you, I took a lot of abuse.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.148
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
I really believe the Lord is speaking to me
[TV evangelist Paula]ÿWhite discovered that Trump loves Southern Gospel music and one of his favorites is Bill Gaither, [whom Trump saw] on Christian TV. For a birthday or anniversary she would send him Gaither tapes, along with books & sermons. "Have I
had in-depth spiritual conversations with Trump? Absolutely," White said. "Let me say something very literal about our president: 100% he has a relationship with God, through the Lord Jesus Christ as his savior."In 2012, Trump called White and told
her he was thinking of running for president. There was a time for prayer as he pondered the decision. Of course he didn't run then, but he called her again in 2015 and told her, "I really believe the Lord is speaking to me, that maybe I'm supposed to
run for president.' I asked him, 'As my friend, what can I do for you? He asked me to bring some pastors in to him, and I did." Time & again, White and various pastors have surrounded Trump and placed their hands on his shoulders as prayers were spoken.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.135
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Uses wealth to declare his competence and he can't be bought
Trump uses his wealth to state two facts about himself: (1) I'm competent, & (2) I can't be bought."I'm not doing that to brag because, you know what? I don't have to brag, I don't have to, believe it or not. I'm doing that to say that's the kind of
thinking our country needs . We need that thinking. We have the opposite thinking. We have losers. We have losers. We have people that don't have it. We have people that are morally corrupt. We have people that are selling this country down the drain."
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.145
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Not sure if he's ever asked God for forgiveness
[Trump was asked], "Have you ever asked God for forgiveness?" I am not sure I have. I just try to go and do a better job from there. I don't think so. I think if I do something wrong, I just try to go back and make it right.
I don't bring God into that picture. I don't.
Now when I take, you know, when I go to church, and drink my little wine, which is about the only wine I drink, and have my little cracker, I guess that is my forgiveness.
And I do that as often as possible because I feel cleansed, ok? But you know, to me, that is important I do that. In terms of officially-see, I could tell you, "Absolutely"-and everybody-I don't think in terms of that.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.150-151
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
God helped me by giving me a certain brain
[Trump was asked], "Does God help you do these great deals?""I think God helped me by giving me a certain brain, whether that's a good thing or a bad thing. I went through a phenomenal school, The Wharton School of Finance. I did really well there.
I was a great student. So I mean, I was born with a certain intellect that is good for this."
Trump attributed his intellectual and financial success in life to God's gifting. Such attribution is a common religious practice-Thanksgiving.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.153
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
The Bible is like a great, incredible movie
Trump compared the Bible to a great movie or a great work of art."I don't like to use this anthology, but like a great movie, a great incredible movie. You'll see it once it will be good. You'll see it again, you'll see it twenty times, and every
time you'll appreciate it more. The bible is the most special thing.
My colleagues and I left portions of the interview on the editing room floor. Such is the nature of broadcast news that you only use a small portion of the material you obtain.
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.162
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Respects evangelical leaders on prayer and on policy
His respect for the clergy and evangelical leaders is apparent. He not only values their prayers and spiritual counsel in private, But he also respects their public policy knowledge on the issues of the day as well.
His evangelical advisory board is concrete evidence of that. Michelle Bachmann, the former Minnesota congresswoman and 2012 presidential candidate, is part of that select group of evangelicals around the president who applaud how he is leaning
into them. "For too long Christians have been excluded from the table in decision making in Washington DC," Bachmann said. "They (Trump and Pence) do not shy away, nor are they ashamed with being associated with evangelical Christians.
In fact, they take the advice, they do listen to the advice of the evangelical Christians."
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.274-275
Feb 3, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Always felt the need to pray; needs God more as president
During his first term we know that Trump has rarely attended church. And while we know that going to church regularly is good for the soul and for building community with other believers, we also acknowledge that ultimately God measures a man's heart,
not his church attendance record. A lack of church attendance doesn't necessarily translate into lack of spiritual significance. We know he is constantly surrounded by evangelical leaders who pray with him and for him on consistent basis.
Nobody except for God and Trump will know the consistency of his prayer life, but in an interview I conducted with the president during his first week in office, he gave signs that he relies on a power higher than his own. "I've always felt the need
to pray." Trump told me. "So I would say that the office is so powerful that you need God even more. There's almost not a decision that you make when you're sitting in this position that isn't a life altering decision. So God comes into it even more so."
Source: The Faith of Donald J. Trump, by Brody & Lamb, p.285-286
Feb 3, 2018
Page last updated: Nov 25, 2021