Donald Trump

Rick Perry Seeking Endorsement From Birther-In-Chief Donald Trump?

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 26, 2011, 8:57AM

Rick Perry, by most measures the current frontrunner for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination at the moment, has been chatting with Donald Trump lately.

Team Trump tells Politico's James Hohmann -- who broke the story Friday -- that Perry has called Trump "on 'several occasions." Trump's folks seem to think this means Perry's looking for Trump's endorsement, though Perry's campaign wouldn't discuss the nature of the conversations with Hohmann and didn't respond immediately to TPM's request for comment.

Trump's representative says Romney's calling, too, though Romney's campaign did not immediately respond to TPM's request for comment either.

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Tim Walberg

MI GOP Rep: When The GOP Takes Over The WH, We'll Finally Get To The Bottom Of The Birth Certificate

Evan McMorris-Santoro | August 16, 2011, 4:06PM

It's baaaack.

Months after President Obama put to bed most remaining doubts about his origins by releasing his long-form birth certificate, a Republican member of Congress from Michigan is strongly suggesting the matter needs some attention from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Welcome back to the birther debate, courtesy of Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI).

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Birther

Olympia Snowe Primary Challenger Says Obama Not A Christian

Benjy Sarlin | July 19, 2011, 1:26PM

Scott D'Amboise

A Republican primary challenger to Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) went on a rant against Barack Obama this week in which he claimed the president was not a Christian.

Businessman Scott D'amboise told FrumForum in an interview on Tuesday that he did not believe Obama's professed faith was genuine.

"The President, he says he is Christian but yet he's exercises a lot of Muslim faith too," D'amboise said. "Me personally, I'm a Christian conservative. I don't hold any malice to anybody, whether they are Muslim, or Jewish, or Catholic, or anything else. I just believe that he needs to come forward with his views a little bit clearer."

Asked specifically whether Obama might be a Muslim, a common (and false) belief in some right-wing circles, D'amboise told FrumForum "I don't know if he is or isn't, but I don't believe he's a Christian."

In an interview with TPM, Andrew Ian Dodge, a Tea Party activist who is also running against Snowe as a Republican, condemned D'amboise's comments as a "distraction."

"I think its a way of vilifying him," Dodge said. "Obama is a social democrat, but he is neither a Muslim nor a non-citizen."

He added that comments like D'amboise's help Democrats by portraying the right as "bunch of loons."

D'amboise has only raised $100,000 so far, well behind Snowe's $2.7 million cash on hand. Dodge has not yet released fundraising totals.

2012 elections

Bachmann: Obama Should Go Back To...Hawaii!

Eric Kleefeld | June 29, 2011, 10:17AM

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Michele Bachmann's multi-state campaign announcement tour took her to South Carolina on Tuesday, home of some of the most right-wing Tea Partiers around. And interestingly, while she was there she made a comment that distanced herself sharply from the fringe "Birther" movement in a subtle way.

As CNN reports, Bachmann promised to run a fully national campaign. "We want to win Hawaii," she said. "And we think that there is a certain Hawaiian president who should go back to Hawaii!"

Of course, President Obama was born in Hawaii, though he made his adult life and his political career in Chicago, Illinois. Moreover, Hawaii is a heavily Democratic state, and has only voted Republican for president in the landslide re-elections of Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1984. Obama won his birthplace state by a whopping 72%-26% margin in 2008 -- up from John Kerry's much narrower 54%-45% in 2004 -- aided by the prospect of electing the first Hawaiian president.

On the other hand, this hasn't stopped conspiracy theorists from spinning rumors that Obama was really born in Kenya, and isn't legally qualified to be president, and that the multiple Hawaiian documents attesting to his birth there are forgeries.

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Barack Obama

Obama Campaign Selling Birth Certificate-Emblazoned Merchandise

Jon Terbush | May 18, 2011, 12:37PM

President Obama's reelection campaign is turning a conspiracy theory that had long dogged the president into a snarky fundraising tool, selling merchandise depicting Obama and his complete long form birth certificate.

For a $25 donation, you can get a t-shirt that shows a smiling Obama above the phrase, "Made in the U.S.A" on the front, and the president's long-form birth certificate on the back. The campaign is also giving away coffee mugs with the same design scheme to supporters who make a $15 contribution.

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Barack Obama

'Birther' Population Plummets Following Release Of Obama's Long-Form Birth Certificate

Jon Terbush | May 5, 2011, 12:08PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

Following the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate -- a document skeptics claimed did not exist because Obama was supposedly born in a foreign country -- the percentage of Americans who doubt Obama's citizenship has plummeted, according to two new polls.

In a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Thursday, only 10% of Americans said Obama was born in a foreign country. That's exactly half the percent who said the same last year.

And even among those who doubted Obama's citizenship, far fewer are quite so confident in that stance now that Obama's birth certificate has been released. Last year, nine percent of respondents said there was "solid evidence" to prove that Obama was born elsewhere. That number dropped to just one percent in the latest poll.

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Birth Certificate

With Drudge Report's Help, Birthers Latch Onto Phony Forgery Theory

Benjy Sarlin | April 29, 2011, 10:23AM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

In a predictable turn, conspiracy theorists are now rallying behind a bogus claim that President Obama's long form birth certificate is a Photoshopped forgery -- with a huge helping hand from one of conservative media's biggest names.

The fringe theory's rapid spread within hours of the certificate's release presents almost a perfect example of one of the White House's justifications for taking on the birther issue -- namely, that thanks to the internet, conspiracy theories can migrate quickly from the fringe and into the mainstream if left unchecked.

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Birther

The Best Birther Parodies

Benjy Sarlin | April 28, 2011, 10:10AM

Wacked out conspiracy theorists might be an annoyance, but their outlandish ideas make for hilarious Internet parodies. Here are some of the best.

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Birth Certificate

The GOP Reacts: We Never Cared About The Birth Certificate -- But It's About Time Already!

Benjy Sarlin | April 28, 2011, 8:56AM

Former candidate for Vice President Sarah Palin

It's been a full day since the White House released President Obama's long form birth certificate, and prominent Republicans are coalescing around a few recurring notes in their reaction.

Responses for the most part fall into two broad, sometimes overlapping, themes in which Republicans either accuse President Obama of taking too long to put the birther nonsense to bed or suggest he's exploiting the issue by even addressing it.

While speculation around Obama's legitimacy occurs almost exclusively in conservative circles -- reaching a high point in recent weeks amid Donald Trump's birther campaign -- a number of mostly mainstream Republicans characterized Obama's statement as a smokescreen that distracts from various other topics.The most oft-quoted example came from Sarah Palin who tweeted: "Now, don't let the WH distract you w/the birth crt from what Bernanke says today. Stay focused, eh?" referring to a rare press conference from the Federal Reserve chairman.

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Louie Gohmert

Gohmert: The Birth Certificate Proves We Need A Federal Birther Law

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 27, 2011, 6:21PM

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) welcomed the release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate on Wednesday, after suffering what he said had been "arrogant condescension" from Obama's supporters. And he said the redundant proof that Obama was indeed born where everyone knew he was born shows that Congress really needs to pass a law requiring presidential candidates to produce their birth certificates.

"It is truly distressing that the administration would wait so long to release such an important piece of documentation, when such a simple act was all it required," Gohmert said in a statement. "In my mind, a critically important action we could take in Congress is to eliminate similar controversies arising in future elections."

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Birth Certificate

Birther-Curious Rep. Paul Broun: Obama Birth Certificate "Two Years Overdue"

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 6:19PM

Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA)

After flirting with birtherism in the past, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA), told reporters Wednesday that Obama's long form birth certificate was "two years overdue" while insisting he was focused on the economy instead.

"I am more interested in President Obama producing a budget that actually cuts spending and removes the regulatory burden on small businesses so they can create jobs and grow our economy," Broun said in a statement. "Or perhaps he can produce a realistic energy policy to help ease the pain at the pump Americans are feeling by reducing our dependency on foreign sources. Regardless, until the President is ready to produce something that isn't a 'commission', political speech, or a document two years overdue - Republicans in Congress will continue to work tirelessly to produce the kind of economic solutions that the American people are demanding."

In 2010, Broun told a radio host that he did not know if President Obama was an American citizen or a Christian. A spokesman for Broun told Politico shortly after the incident that he wasn't questioning Obama's birthplace or religion, he simply didn't want to speculate.

Birther

Georgia Governor Who Asked For Obama's Birth Certificate Now 'Focused On Creating Jobs'

Ryan J. Reilly | April 27, 2011, 5:07PM

Gov. Nathan Deal (R-GA)

Republican Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who wrote a letter to President Barack Obama demanding to see his long-form birth certificate, isn't focused on the "birther" issue these days, according to a spokeswoman.

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Birther

Among Birther Friendly Lawmakers, Mostly Radio Silence

Benjy Sarlin | April 27, 2011, 1:39PM

President Barack Obama's long form birth certificate.

President Obama's decision to release his long form birth certificate comes amid Donald Trump's three-ring circus on the issue, but prominent conservatives have flirted with the birther movement since its earliest inception. From insisting Obama release more records, to waffling on questions about his citizenship, to sponsoring legislation winking at conspiracy theorists, there's been no shortage of birther curious behavior over the last several years.

TPM reached out to over 20 lawmakers and public figures who have indulged in such behavior to determine whether Obama's release of the Rosetta stone of birtherism has settled the issue, receiving few responses.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Tea Party Nation

Tea Party Nation: Hold Your Horses -- We've Got Some Other Questions About Obama's 'Eligibility'

Jillian Rayfield | April 27, 2011, 12:54PM

Judson Phillips, leader of Tea Party Nation.

Judson Phillips, founder of Tea Party Nation, says that it's all well and good that President Obama has released his long-form birth certificate, but there are still several other questions about his "eligibility" and background that need answering. Among them: Why won't the President release his school records, and is he hiding the fact that he was on a foreign student scholarship?

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Birther

Trump On Obama's Birth Certificate: I'm 'Honored' -- But Where Are His School Records? (VIDEO)

Jillian Rayfield | April 27, 2011, 10:43AM

Donald Trump

Beaming with pride, Donald Trump took credit on Wednesday for President Obama releasing a copy of his long-form birth certificate -- but with some qualifications.

"I'm very proud of myself because I've accomplished something that nobody else has been able to accomplish," he said in press conference in New Hampshire. "I'm really honored."

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

But, Trump said, "we have to look at it. We have to see, is it real? Is it proper?" He added: "It is rather amazing that all of a sudden it materializes." And, Trump said, there are still questions about President Obama's background. "The word is," Trump told the press, Obama "was a terrible student when he went to Occidental [College]. He then gets to Columbia. He then gets to Harvard."

"I don't know why he doesn't release his records," Trump said. "Why doesn't he release his Occidental records?"

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Birth Certificate

Polls Show About Half Of GOPers Think Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 27, 2011, 10:09AM

With the release of President Obama's long form birth certificate on Wednesday, many are wondering why the White House decided to even bother wading into the birther debate long after it had been proven to be a red herring.

One reason, as noted by Obama in a press conference Tuesday morning, is that while the birther controversy is largely considered a fringe issue, it's actually mainstream within Republican ranks, according to several recent polls.

TPM SLIDESHOW: There's The Birth Certificate: TPM's Best Of The Birthers

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Pres '12

RNC Chair Priebus Dismisses Birthers

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2011, 1:04PM

Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican National Committee

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus is dismissing the birther phenomenon within his party's base -- a further sign that the Republican establishment is trying to put some distance between itself and the conspiracy theories still popular on the Tea Party right.

"Trump and the candidates can talk about it all they want, but my position is that the president was born in the United States," Priebus told reporters at a breakfast hosted by the Christian Science Monitor, CNN reports.

"I don't think it's an issue that moves voters," Priebus added. "It's an issue in my opinion that I don't personally get too excited about, because I think the more important question is what's going on in this country in regards to jobs, to debt, and the deficit and spending. Those are the things that people are worried about. People aren't worried about these other issues."

Arizona

GOP Gov. Brewer Slams Birtherism As 'Leading Our Country Down A Path Of Destruction' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 26, 2011, 10:33AM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ) appeared Monday night on CNN's John King, USA to discuss her recent veto of a "birther bill" -- a piece of legislation requiring candidates for public office to submit proof of U.S. citizenship to the state Secretary of State before they could appear on the state's ballot. And despite the issue's appeal to the GOP's Tea Party base, Brewer had nothing good to say about the bill.

"Well, you know, it seems to me that we have talked about this issue now going on probably two years, and that I believe that most people have reached out and they did their investigations, and it's become such a huge distraction," said Brewer. "I for one, I believe that what I have seen, and after speaking with governor -- or the prior governor of Hawaii -- that indeed he [Obama] was born in Hawaii.

"It's just something that I think is leading our country down a path of destruction, and it just is not serving any good purpose.

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Donald Trump

Is Donald Trump's Media Blitz Wrecking The Apprentice's Ratings?

Benjy Sarlin | April 25, 2011, 10:37AM

Ratings for Donald Trump's NBC series The Apprentice have sagged the last couple of weeks, prompting a wave of speculation among the pundit class that his birther crusade is turning off the show's viewership. In fact, his viewership has fluctuated wildly over the past several years, making such pronouncements premature.

"Yes, the numbers were down, but I don't see this as a trend at all," Patricia Phalen, a professor of media and public affairs at George Washington University, told TPM. "There could be any number of factors influencing a decline, if that is really what's happening. For one thing, it's April, and people are more likely to be out. For another, the content of any particular program could be less attractive for the viewer. I happen to be an Apprentice fan, and the latest episode was very, very predictable."

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Birther

Poll: Nearly Half Of Republicans Think Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 21, 2011, 1:19PM

The belief that President Obama was not born in America may seem like a fringe issue, but within the Republican party, the view is fairly mainstream.

In a New York Times/CBS poll released on Thursday, a 45% plurality of Republican adults said they believe Obama was not born in the U.S. Additionally, 33% said Obama was born in America, while 22% said they weren't sure.

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump: I've Said My Piece On Obama's Birth Certificate (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 21, 2011, 9:52AM

Donald Trump

Could Donald Trump be following Karl Rove's advice and dropping his public birtherism once and for all? In an op-ed published in USA Today on Thursday morning, Trump writes that he's ready to stop all the birther chatter.

"I have spoken my piece on this issue," Trump wrote, reminding readers that "many people have the same doubts as I have."

Trump says he's ready to shift the conversation about his maybe-candidacy to something more substantive.

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Pres '12

Bachmann Gets Cornered On Birtherism: 'Move On, End Of Story' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 20, 2011, 10:17AM

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos on Good Morning America, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) tried to hedge on the matter of birtherism -- using the line used by some Republicans who fall short of fully endorsing the conspiracy theory, while saying that Obama should just release his birth certificate (which he already did three years ago). To which George Stephanopoulos answered: Obama has released his birth certificate -- and here it is.

During the interview, Stephanopoulos asked Bachmann about how a prominent supporter of hers in Iowa has introduced a "birther bill" in the state legislature, which would require presidential candidates to supply their birth certificates to the state.

"Well, Governor Jan Brewer just vetoed that bill in Arizona," said Bachman, "because she felt that that was a bridge too far -- that it wouldn't be up to the authenticators in each state to do that, that that would be a federal issue. There is a federal piece of legislation that hasn't gone anywhere that would also require that candidates put forward their birth certificate. I have no problem giving my birth certificate, it wouldn't bother me at all. I've got one, its authenticated, take it."

"Well, but so does the president," Stephanopoulos replied.

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Karl Rove

Karl Rove: I Tried To Offer Trump A Way Out Of The Birther Talk (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 19, 2011, 2:47PM

Karl Rove

Karl Rove, among the big name conservatives who are openly hostile to Donald Trump's birther-centric sort of-presidential campaign, apparently tried to give Trump a rhetorical way out of his talk about President Obama's birth certificate.

On Fox News on Monday, Rove described how Trump apparently took the advice to heart -- and then immediately ignored it.

It's the latest round of the war of words between Trump and Rove, which kicked off when Rove told Fox that Trump was "joke candidate."

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Birther

Trump To Stephanopoulos: 'Obama And His Minions, They Have Co-Opted You' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 19, 2011, 1:00PM

Donald Trump's birther bluster is continuing, with him declaring that he might release his tax returns -- but only if President Obama will release his "real" birth certificate.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos of ABC News, Trump lamented how he would give up his private life if he were to run. "I have a great company. I've done a great job -- which if I run, you'll see what a great job, because I'll do a full disclosure, finances--"

"Including your tax returns?" asked Stephanopoulos.

"We'll look at that -- Maybe I'm gonna do the tax returns when Obama does his birth certificate," Trump responded.

He also added: "I'd love to give my tax returns. I may tie my tax returns into Obama's birth certificate."

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2012 elections

Poll: 48% Of Iowa Republicans Say Obama Wasn't Born In U.S.

Jon Terbush | April 19, 2011, 11:15AM

Nearly half of usual Republican primary voters in Iowa think President Obama was not born in the United States, while barely one-quarter believe he was, according to a PPP poll released on Tuesday.

In the poll, 48% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., while 26% said he was. Additionally, 26% said they were unsure.

That percentage is actually slightly better than the national average for typical Republican primary voters, a majority of whom believe Obama was born outside the U.S. In February, a PPP poll found that 51% of registered Republican voters said Obama was not born in the U.S., compared to 28% who said he was, and 21% who were unsure.

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Bobby Jindal

Gov. Jindal Will Sign Louisiana's Birther Bill If It Gets To Him

Jillian Rayfield | April 19, 2011, 9:49AM

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) may have vetoed her state's so-called birther bill, but a spokesman for Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) said Monday that Jindal would sign Louisiana's own version of the bill if it reaches his desk.

"It's not part of our package, but if the Legislature passes it we'll sign it," said Kyle Plotkin, Jindal's press secretary, the New Orleans Times Picayune reports.

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Arizona

Brewer Vetoes Birther Bill In Arizona

Eric Kleefeld | April 18, 2011, 10:28PM

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ)

Gov. Jan Brewer (R-AZ), who has been a darling on the right for her battles with the Obama administration over illegal immigration, health care and other issues, has now taken a potentially bold step against the Tea Party base: She has vetoed a "birther bill" -- a piece of legislation motivated by conspiracy theories about President Obama place of birth, requiring candidates for public office to submit proof of U.S. citizenship to the state Secretary of State before they could appear on the state's ballot.

"I do not support designating one person as the gatekeeper to the ballot for a candidate, which could lead to arbitrary or politically motivated decisions," Brewer said in her veto message, the Associated Press reports. Brewer herself is a former Arizona Secretary of State.

"In addition, I never imagined being presented with a bill that could require candidates for president of the greatest and most powerful nation on Earth to submit their early baptismal circumcision certificates' among other records to the Arizona secretary of state. This is a bridge too far."

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Arizona

Gov. Brewer: AZ Birther Bill May Be 'Shooting A Little Bit From The Hip'

Jillian Rayfield | April 18, 2011, 4:17PM

AZ Gov. Jan Brewer (R)

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) indicated that she may not sign the recently passed "birther" bill into law, explaining that "I think my big concern probably, just shooting a little bit from the hip, is the fact that I don't know if we regulate federal elections."

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Pres '12

Trump: Bill Ayers Wrote Obama's Book! (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 16, 2011, 3:00PM

During an interview aired Friday night on Sean Hannity's TV show, Donald Trump branched out beyond his simple commitment to birtherism as a political issue -- and also advocated vigorously for another conspiracy theory regarding President Obama, alleging that Bill Ayers was the true author of Obama's 1995 book, Dreams From My Father!

Trump has previously talked about this particular conspiracy theory. But in this case, it was on the most high-profile platform yet, in the form of a featured extended interview on Fox News. The long discredited theory has also been propagated by the right-wing web site World Net Daily, whose founder Joseph Farah claims to have been talking with Trump "quite a bit."

During the Hannity interview, Hannity and Trump speculated that Obama's real birth certificate might contain information he does not want the public to see, such as information stating that he was a Muslim. Trump then segued into questioning Obama's whole background.

"Look, he was born 'Barry Soetero.' Somewhere along the line, he changed his name," said Trump -- referring to the surname of Obama's mother's second husband, Lolo Soetoro, whom she married four years after Obama was born. "I heard he had terrible marks, and he ends up in Harvard. He wrote a book that was better than Ernest Hemingway, but the second book was written by an average person."

"You suspect Bill Ayers?" said Hannity.

"I said, Bill Ayers wrote the book," Trump replied.

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Racism

Pat Buchanan: Donald Trump Is Not A Racist

Brian Beutler | April 15, 2011, 1:02PM

If you're trying to burnish your racial bona fides you probably want somebody other than Pat Buchanan sanding down your rough edges for you.

After setting self-awareness aside this week and telling the world "I've always had a great relationships with the blacks. Some of my best friends are blacks," GOP presidential hopeful Donald Trump found himself in the hot seat with the media.

Today on MSNBC, Pat Buchanan leaped to his defense.

"I don't find any malice in what he said in that statement about the black folks," Buchanan said. "I'm a Catholic, and if he said I have a great relationship with the Catholics, I don't think I'd take great offense."

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Donald Trump

Birther Czar Joseph Farah: I've Been Talking To Donald Trump 'Quite A Bit'

Jillian Rayfield | April 14, 2011, 2:29PM

Author and journalist Joseph Farah and Donald Trump

Looks like Donald Trump is taking his birtherism to the next level -- by soliciting advice from birther czar Joseph Farah.

Kendra Marr of Politico reports that Farah says he and Trump talked every day this week, and he has been advising Trump on the basics of birtherism. "We've have been speaking quite a bit," Farah said.

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Birther

AZ Senate Passes Birther Bill With Overwhelming Majority

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 14, 2011, 9:42AM

The Arizona state Senate passed Wednesday the revised version of a bill that would require candidates to prove their citizenship before they can appear on state ballots.

The bill will now head to the state House for a final vote.

Though President Obama is not named in the bill or specifically by the bill's sponsors, most read it as a directed attack from those who question whether Obama was born in the United States. Last week, lead House sponsor Rep. Carl Seel (R) met with Donald Trump, who's lately become the national spokesperson for skepticism about Obama's legitimacy. Seel told local press Trump gave his bill "the thumbs up."

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Pres '12

Romney: 'I Believe The President Was Born In The United States' (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | April 13, 2011, 11:29AM

Former Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA) and Donald Trump

In his first major interview after launching his presidential exploratory campaign, Mitt Romney stated in unambiguous terms that he is not a birther.

In a lengthy interview on CNBC, Larry Kudlow asked Romney about potential rival candidate Donald Trump's recent activism for the birthers.

"Now, he [Trump] has made a fetish, really, an obsession over questioning President Obama's citizenship and the birth certificate from Hawaii," said Kudlow. "Let me ask you on that subject, first of all, do you agree with Trump that Obama should be questioned on this? Do you feel that Mr. Obama has passed all the citizenship tests?"

"I think the citizenship test has been passed. I believe the president was born in the United States," Romney said.

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Donald Trump

Trump: Obama's Grandparents Put In The Birth Announcement To Get Benefits Like Welfare

Jillian Rayfield | April 11, 2011, 11:39AM

Donald Trump

Donald Trump has an explanation for why President Obama's birth would be announced in a Hawaii newspaper if he wasn't really born in the United States: His grandparents put it in as a ruse to make people think he was a U.S. citizen, "for hospitalization, for welfare, for this, for that, for all of the other assets you get from being a United States citizen."

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Donald Trump

Donald Trump To Meet With AZ Birther Bill Author In NYC

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 7, 2011, 2:38PM

State Rep. Carl Seel (R-AZ) and Donald Trump

Donald "The Donald" Trump is taking further steps to make himself the nation's birther-in-chief. On the heels of his promise to reveal the truth about Obama's birth in the next several weeks, TPM has learned Trump will be hosting an author of Arizona's birther legislation in New York City this week.

According to his office, State Rep. Carl Seel (R) is currently en route to New York City to powow with Trump over HB 2177, a bill which would require all candidates for office to prove their citizenship to the Secretary of State's office before they can appear of Arizona ballots.

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Donald Trump

Trump Promises To Reveal Secrets Of Obama's Birth Before Summer (VIDEO)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 7, 2011, 1:13PM

Riding high on poll numbers that suggest he's a legitimate player in the 2012 Republican presidential nomination race, Donald Trump took to the NBC airwaves Thursday morning to make a promise to the American people: he's going to figure out once and for all if President Obama was born in the United States.

Trump's flirtation with and eventual marriage to birtherism has been a nagging part of the political landscape for weeks now, horrifying (and/or amusing) progressives and riling up the GOP's tea party base. Now Trump's promised to go from the man who re-raised the question everyone else answered in 2008 to the one who re-answers it once and for all. And he says he's going to do it in the next few weeks.

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