Is Donald Trump really sincere about his Christian faith? American political analyst Kirsten Powers does not seem to think so as she recalled the "truthful hyperbole" Trump wrote about in his 1987 memoir called "The Art of the Deal."
"I play to people's fantasies," Trump wrote in the book. "I call it truthful hyperbole. It's an innocent form of exaggeration—and a very effective form of promotion."
For Powers, however, that is just plain lying, and the fact that he is proclaiming to be a devout Christian might just be a "truthful hyperbole" that he is employing in order for him to get into the White House.
"Trump is a lot of things, but stupid isn't one of them. He clearly determined that the only way to win the Republican nomination was through an appeal to the conservative evangelical vote," Powers wrote in an article for Charisma News.
Powers would like voters to recall that Trump has been divorced several times over and has long supported abortion rights until he decided to run for president.
She also accused him of "prideful self-aggrandisement."
During the Family Leadership Summit, Trump said, "People are so shocked when they find out I am Protestant. I am Presbyterian. And I go to church and I love God and I love my church."
To that, Powers can only say: "Yes, that is shocking. After all, the Bible has a few things to say about humility, which is not exactly Trump's strong suit."
Trump still firmly ahead
Meanwhile, Trump continues to lead the Republican presidential race, getting 30 percent support in the latest Monmouth University poll released last week. Dr. Ben Carson is at second with 18 percent.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush slipped four points to third place with 8 percent, tying Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker fell eight points to fourth place with 3 percent support.
Trump and Bush in verbal skirmish
Trump and Bush have lately been criticising each another heavily. In one instance, Trump made scathing comments against America's immigration system and Latinos. Bush, whose wife was born in Mexico, took offense to his comments and said diversity only adds vitality to the country.
"I think Donald Trump trying to insult his way to the presidency is not going to work. People want an uplifting, hopeful message," he said.
But still, Bush said he would support Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton in case his Republican rival wins the party nomination for next year's presidential election. "I would, of course," he said. "We need to be unified. We need to win."
