Vice President Joe Biden didn't mince words when it comes to Donald Trump versus the Pope, as well as Trump's chances in the Presidential Election. Transcript via MSNBC:
MADDOW: Let me ask you one for of news of the day question, and it is also about the 2016 race. Pope Francis did his cross-border map yesterday…
BIDEN: (INAUDIBLE)
MADDOW: … He is a world wide figure in a way that not all Popes have been. On his way home from his six day trip to Mexico on his plane he made remarks to reporters today, and he was specifically asked about Donald Trump. He said anybody who was building walls instead of building bridges is not a Christian.
And, Trump has reacted to this. Called it disgraceful, the Pope’s remarks, and said that nobody should question his faith. I have to ask you as a Catholic, and as an observer of 2016, what you think about that?
BIDEN: Pope Francis, Trump, it’s not a hard call for me. It’s not even close.
(LAUGHING)
MADDOW: Is it fair to say if somebody wants to build a wall, by definition, isn’t a Christian?
BIDEN: Well, I am not a theologian, nor am I a priest or a minister, but I think building walls is fundamentally contrary to what made this country what it is. We’re a pluralistic society in its functions.
Look around the world. Every other country where there’s absolute chaos now, what is it? They’re pluralistic without consensus. Look at almost every single country, from Syria, to Iraq, to Iran, Ukraine, no matter where it is. I just think it is totally counter to our tradition.
Should we have border security there? Yes. But the idea of the United States erecting a wall for the world to see makes a lie of everything we say about ourselves. It’s a little bit like why the President and I feel so strongly about closing Guantanamo. It is inconsistent with who we are.
We have a Bill of Rights, we have trial by jury. We have a notion that you are – you’re innocent until you’re proven guilty. We have all these things.
Look, I’ve been saying for the last nine years, our power comes as much from – our respect in the world comes as much from the exercise of our power as it does from the power of our principles. Why do people like America? They say, well, you have the largest military in the world. Because you have more people, et cetera. They like America for what we stand for. And one of the things, and I feel proud to be, what this president’s for, the last seven years, is we have once again aligned our basic fundamental beliefs and principles with our conduct. And it matters. It matters in terms of our security. It matters in terms of our ability to influence the world. It matters in our ability to succeed.
MADDOW: Briefly, just as a follow up to that, President Obama was asked this week if he could imagine Mr. Trump becoming the nominee of the Republican party. The president reiterated that Mr. Trump will never be president. Very deftly getting around the question of whether or not the Republican Party’s going to nominate him. Let us put that to you as well. Do you think that he will be the nominee? Do you think that could happen?
BIDEN: I think it is very possible he could be nominated and depending on how this all plays out, I would take him seriously in terms of being able to win because he’s appealing to a very, very – he’s appealing to fear. He’s appealing to, that whole expression, everybody who asked me, why is Trump able to win in those 16 people? There’s a whole expression. In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. I’m not very good at prognosticating but I would not be surprised if he’s the nominee. I would be surprised if he got elected.
MADDOW: Mr. Vice President, having this much time with you is a real honor.
BIDEN: Oh, it’s been an honor. Are you kidding? Thanks. Thank you.
