Donald Trump’s Interview with Jake Tapper of CNN

“This is how demagogues rise to power. It is also the pattern of Anti-Christ. I’m not comparing [Donald] Trump to the Anti-Christ; I’m just saying the desire of the people for a political savior is the pattern that will lead to the rise of Anti-Christ.”—Political commentator Cal Thomas, December 16, 2015

Jake Tapper, CNN: So Mr. Trump, some evangelical Christians have suggested that you’re the Anti-Christ.

Donald Trump: The evangelicals love me. So do the Jews! And they are very tough negotiators.

Tapper: I know you’re polling well with evangelicals. But there’s a subset who thinks you might be the—

Trump: I don’t know anything about that. There are many groups out there that support me.

Tapper: They don’t support you. They think you’re the Devil!

Trump: Anyone who says that is a dummy, and a loser, and a pathetic person. And none of this in the Bible. Which is my favorite book, by the way.

Tapper: It is in the Bible. The book of Daniel says that the Anti-Christ “will exalt and magnify himself.”

Trump: I don’t have to do that! I’ve got Trump Properties, and Trump Mortgages, and Trump Steaks, and Trump University—

Tapper: Wait, aren’t you being sued for defrauding students at Trump University? The Bible calls Satan “the father of lies.”

Trump: I am the father of a beautiful woman. You know, if she wasn’t my daughter—

Tapper: It also tells us to “beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing”—

Trump: It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep! The Bible says that, too.

Tapper: No, sir, Benito Mussolini said that.

Trump: Whatever.

Tapper: Speaking of the Book of Daniel, it also says that the Anti-Christ “shall persecute the saints of the Most High.”

Trump: You mean, like Pope Francis? He is a very political person, and he doesn’t understand how dangerous the Mexicans are.

Tapper: Revelations says that the Anti-Christ “was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words.”

Trump: Like what I called Ted Cruz? I can’t say it on TV, but think “cat.”

Tapper: Back to the Book of Daniel. It says that the Anti-Christ will appear first as a “little horn.”

Trump: Just because I have little hands? I guarantee you, there’s no problem with my horn. I guarantee it.

Tapper: Mr. Trump, we have to go to a commercial break. Just once more, for the record: will you confirm that you’re not Satan?

Trump: I already did that, on Twitter.

Jonathan Zimmerman teaches education and history at New York University. He is the author of “Too Hot to Handle: A Global History of Sex Education” (Princeton University Press).