He was raised in a "respectable" Presbyterian cult of personality with Dr. Norman Vincent Peale as pastor, in his day the Joel Osteen of New York City protestants. So Trump's childhood understanding of Christianity was skewed towards the fruits of success in this world instead of the Cross. Peale was greatly influential and had one of the earliest television programs and media empires from his "Power of Postitive Thinking" book and theory. Just from the title, you can see the influence on the way Trump thinks and speaks. Apparently that part has served him well in business, but hasn't thus far led to the deeper levels, or so it seems.
Secondly, picture yourself a handsome young man in a dense cosmopolitian area where the newspaper makes instant celebrities out of good-looking, wealthy, "eligible bachelors." Being an extrovert, the young Trump came of age just as the Sexual Revolution was hitting the cities hard. Fortunately, he had long-married and decent parents, a military school background and a lifelong commitment to no drinking, drugs or cigarettes, having seen his older brother succumb to alcoholism and squander his birthright, a heartbreak for his parents. Donald was then groomed to take the eldest's place as the natural heir to his father's real estate empire (which was huge by 1964 local standards; little by today's international Trump Organizaton accomplishments). Perhaps having survivors' guilt, he became driven, and focused most of his energy into work rather than contemplative activities like Bible study or prayer, or even vacations. He has attributed the failure of his first two marriages to having worked all the time and not being available enough at home.
The first wife Ivana was the one who reportedly drove much of the aggressive social life of the 80s and celebrity status, and her competitive drive also helped bring down the marriage. She wanted to see and be seen in famous but decadent venues like the notorious Club 54; Donald wanted to go home shortly after arriving. She blabbed tidbits to the gossip press; he did not like these exposures. But the exposures did help build a brand and he allowed himself to slide down the slipperty slope. The tone was set for celebrity and trashiness, continuing through his early 90s business disasters with the Atlantic City properties and the his divorce and five-year marriage to the homewrecker Marla. The best that can be said of that era on the personal/spiritual level is that at least he married his mistress, and at the same time made business corrections so that no other properties going forward would ever be as financially vulnerable as the Atlantic City ones. He appears to have learned the value of stability and caution from both of those downfalls.
By the time he met Melania 18 years ago at age 52, he was starting a period of personal growth and going steadily in the direction of greater prudence and awareness of his role as a father and role model to his greatly adored children; and also crafted his business mentoring persona with books and The Apprentice. All of his children had been put to menial work by their father from early childhood, clearing brush, driving bulldozers, whatever he could do to help them learn the construction business from the ground up, and to appreciate the value of a dollar and hard work. They had allowances, but had to buy things they wanted out of their own savings. Each one joined the business on graduation, and now in their mid-30s, all are married, each has continued the temperance lifestyle, and each is a multi-millionaire from their individual businesses in addition to their work for their father's business.
Don Jr, 38, is married to a Catholic woman and has 5 children. Ivanka, 34, converted to Orthodox Judaism on marriage to Jared Kushner, a real estate executive in his own right and son of parents who run two Judaism academies, and they have 3 children; and Eric, 30, married a Jewish woman last year, but they have no kids yet. In spite of being wealthy heirs and NYC socialites, they have lived a remarkably scandal-free existence. Each majored in business at UPenn or Georgetown.
So in midlife, Donald Sr found his companion Melania who seems to suit him temperamentally, and the infidelity scandals seem to have come to a halt, although it's possible more dirt will be flung before November.
Like many celebrities, he is hounded whenever he goes in public. All of his life, women have thrown themselves at him seductively and both women and men have wanted to make deals or bask in reflected celebrity. If he associates with any organization, he is expected to donate and donate heavily. These experiences are not conducive to learning the Biblical ethos of humility. It would be very hard for him to bare his soul with a confessor without being tapped to build a new wing; who can he trust? It would be very hard to find a Bible class and reveal his shortcomings in understanding or to be regarded as an equal in searching with others in the group. You saw what happened when he didn't express "2nd Corinthians" in the common vernacular. But he also did surround himself with groups of pastors from the beginning of the campaign and did ask for prayer.
Donald Trump Prays with Religious Leaders
Melania has taken him for some years to church services when they are at their Palm Beach residence, Mar-a-Lago. There, they can enter the small church without papparazzi. Everyone in their section of Palm Beach is very wealthy and would consider it "bad form" to gush over someone else who is wealthy or even who is famous, because it might compromise their own vanities. So at least he can attend services from time to time. Here he is last Christmas looking over at Barron and Melania:
It looks like he may win the presidency. As such, the this-world fates of millions will come to rest on his shoulders. He has been long reported to be a generous and caring donor to causes and individuals in his private life, and I believe he does have a heart for people, and will suffer as Lincoln did with the burdens of assuming the cares of our military and their families, criminals, the poor and the immigrants. So he will be open to leaning on Christ as never before. He will have more incentive to find spiritual advisors who will respect the Office, understand the life-and-death neture of it, and perhaps view encounters with the President as unique evangelical/pastoral callings. And he will certainly need our prayers.
God in His Word has given us many examples of working through pagan kings and warriors to achieve His plan and benefit His people: I'm thinking of David, Cyrus, Darius and Nebudchanezzar off the top. At least Donald wants to be a Christian. I hope he will tip over into surrendered servanthood as a result of his current experiences.
I see that I have not answered your particular concerns about issues. There is more that I could write about how I see his particular relationship to Christianity working in our favor in the culture, if you are still interested, I'll have to do that another day!
Blessings, FRiend,