(NaturalNews) There's only one presidential hopeful currently in the running who has been brave enough to speak out about the link between vaccines and autism, and that candidate is none other than business tycoon Donald Trump. In a 2012 interview with Fox News, Trump stated in no uncertain terms that he's seen healthy children fall gravely ill after receiving vaccinations and that there's no doubt in his mind that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are directly linked to vaccines.

This powerful interview took place long before Trump decided to run for president in the 2016 race. Nevertheless, his sentiments and the boldness with which he proclaimed them fit the iconic, no-nonsense Donald Trump that Americans have grown to love. Trump is currently leading the presidential polls in large part because he says it like it is whenever he is given the chance.

"I've gotten to be pretty familiar with the subject," Trump stated during the interview. "You know, I have a theory -- and it's a theory that some people believe in -- and that's the vaccinations," he added, referencing the exponential increase in autism rates that has coincided with the government's ever-expanding vaccine schedule.

"We've never had anything like this. This is now an epidemic. It's way, way up over the past 10 years. It's way up over the past two years. And, you know, when you take a little baby that weighs like 12 pounds into a doctor's office and they pump them with many, many simultaneous vaccinations ... then lots of different things have happened."

When asked how the public might respond to his "controversial" statements that challenge the status quo, Trump told his audience, "I couldn't care less," adding that he's "seen people where they have a perfectly healthy child, and they go for the vaccinations and a month later the child is no longer healthy."

Clinton, Sanders, Huckabee, Carson, and Paul all support vaccinations

Although Trump did throw in a small caveat that he's "all for vaccinations," his surrounding statements suggest he's skeptical of the frequency and composition of today's vaccines. His vocalization on the subject is also a far cry from what his opponents have said (or not said) about this important issue. Here's where all the other major presidential candidates stand on the vaccination issue.

Back in February, Democratic contender Hillary Clinton posted a "tweet" to Twitter stating, "The science is clear: The earth is round, the sky is blue, and #vaccineswork. Let's protect all our kids."

Bernie Sanders, a favorite among disillusioned voters looking for real change in Washington, is likewise supportive of vaccines. Also in February, he issued a statement saying: "I think obviously vaccinations work. Vaccination has worked for many, many years."

Southern Baptist pastor and talk show host Mike Huckabee has expressed support for mandatory vaccinations, having stated the following: "In my state as governor we had a strong emphasis on immunizations. It's very vital to keep kids healthy and well."

Neurosurgeon Dr. Ben Carson, a favorite amongst conservative Christians, shocked many of his supporters when he vocalized opposition to philosophical and religious vaccine exemptions. "Although I strongly believe in individual rights and the rights of parents to raise their children as they see fit, I also recognize that public health and public safety are extremely important in our society," he told The Hill.

Even Rand Paul, the son of former presidential hopeful and libertarian conservative Ron Paul, told the media that he's "not anti-vaccine at all." Although Paul opposes mandatory vaccinations, he's waffled on the issue of vaccine safety, claiming that he vaccinates his own children but uses a "delayed" schedule.

Sources for this article include:

AutismoAVA.org

CNN.com

TrailblazersBlog.DallasNews.com

Breitbart.com

HuffingtonPost.com