Donald Trump: Koran has ‘very negative vibe’

Donald Trump talks to the press after receiving the American Automobile Association's (AAA) Five-Diamond Award for Trump's International Hotel & Tower New York at the hotel on March 31, 2011. Trump is widely rumored to be mulling a run for the U.S. presidency in 2012. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY - AFP/GETTY IMAGES) Working overtime to convince the public of his social conservative credentials, potential 2012 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump is appearing on Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club this week to discuss everything from his religious beliefs, to his new found anti-abortion stance, to his view of the Koran as a scripture with a “very negative vibe.”

The thrice-married billionaire's interview with CBN’s David Brody airs in a series this week.

Trump told Brody that he is a Christian who attends church, “Always on Christmas. Always on Easter. Always when there’s a major occasion. And during the Sundays. I’m a Sunday church person. I’ll go when I can.”

The businessman also said that he has recently spoken to conservative Christian activists Ralph Reed and Tony Perkins and suggested that they “perhaps they look at me as somebody who can win” in a race against President Obama.

Other noteworthy exchanges from Brody’s interview with Trump:

David Brody: “Radical Islam: to evangelicals, this is a bread and butter issue. You said there’s a Muslim problem in this country. What do you mean by that exactly?”

Donald Trump: “Bill O’Reilly asked me is there a Muslim problem? And I said absolutely, yes. In fact I went a step further. I said I didn’t see Swedish people knocking down the world trade center. It was very interesting. I thought that was going to be a controversial statement and somebody, I think it was Dennis Miller introduced me, he was doing like an analysis of me, he said, I love it. The guy said what the truth is. He didn’t mince his words. He didn’t say oh, gee, no there’s not a Muslim problem, everybody’s wonderful and by the way, many, many, most Muslims are wonderful people but is there a Muslim problem? Look what’s happening. Look what happened right here in my city with the World Trade Center and lots of other places. So I said it and I thought it was going to be very controversial but actually it was very well received. I think people want the truth. I think they’re tired of politicians. They’re tired of politically correct stuff. I mean I could have said, oh absolutely not Bill, there’s no Muslim problem, everything is wonderful, just forget about the World Trade Center but you have to speak the truth. We’re so politically correct that this country is falling apart.”

Also:

David Brody: “You talk a lot about business obviously, but talk to me a little bit about how you see God. How you see God in everything from what happened to your brother (he died of alcoholism at the age of 42) to how your life is today”.

Donald Trump: “I believe in God. I am Christian. I think The Bible is certainly, it is THE book. It is the thing. I was raised and I gave you a picture just now and perhaps you’ll use that picture I found it from a long time ago. First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica queens is where I went to church. I’m a protestant, I’m a Presbyterian. And you know I’ve had a good relationship with the church over the years. I think religion is a wonderful thing. I think my religion is a wonderful religion.”

Trump also came out against gay marriage:

Donald Trump: “Well civil unions, look. First of all, I live in New York. I know many, many gay people. Tremendous people. And to be honest with you, as far as civil unions are concerned, I haven’t totally formed my opinion. But there can be no discrimination against gays. I’m against gay marriage; I took a lot of heat for that.”

Check out the full interview with Trump at The Brody File.

Brody wrote Monday that Trump’s “bold talk is something conservative Christians like to hear.”

“Remember, evangelicals tend to operate in a world of biblical absolutes. Their world is very black and white. Not many shades of gray. That’s how Trump sees the world, too. A match made in “heaven?”