"I will be asking for forgiveness [from God]."
Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump made this remark in a recent interview with noted columnist and author Cal Thomas, thus effectively retracting an earlier statement he made that he had never felt the need for repentance and to ask for God's forgiveness.
"But hopefully I won't have to be asking for much forgiveness," the 69-year-old billionaire added while baring more about his thoughts on his Christian faith, WND reports.
In the interview, the transcript of which was published on Thomas' website, the author asked Trump point-blank, "Who do you say Jesus is?"
Trump answered: "Jesus to me is somebody I can think about for security and confidence. Somebody I can revere in terms of bravery and in terms of courage and, because I consider the Christian religion so important, somebody I can totally rely on in my own mind."
If he succeeds in winning the White House this November, Trump promised "to treat my religion, which is Christian, with great respect and care."
He focused on the persecution of Christians taking place across the globe, saying, "In the Middle East – and this is prior to the migration – you had almost no chance of coming into the United States. Christians from Syria, of which there were many, many of their heads ... chopped off. If you were a Muslim from Syria, it was one of the easiest places to come in (to the U.S.). I thought that was deplorable."
Trump said he has gained "tremendous support from the clergy" and that he is optimistic that "I will be doing very well during the election with evangelicals and with Christians."
Trump has been taking a softer tone in his campaign speeches lately, telling a massive crowd of supporters and watching television audience during one recent speech that he would make the Republican Party "proud" to call him their presidential candidate.
"You've given me the honour to lead the Republican Party to victory this fall," he said, the Hill reports. "We're going to do it, folks. I understand the responsibility of carrying the mantle and I will never ever let you down. I will make you proud of your party and your movement."
Trump did not noticeably touch on controversial topics like border-wall building and Muslim immigration bans.
"To those who voted for someone else in either party," he said, during his speech, "I'll work hard to earn your support. I will work very hard to earn that support. To all of those Bernie Sanders supporters who have been left out in the cold by a rigged system of super delegates, we welcome you with open arms."
