Republican Donald Trump acknowledged for the first time on Friday that President Barack Obama was born in the United States, reversing himself on a controversy that he helped launch but that has become a distraction to his White House bid.
“President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period,” Trump, who has questioned Obama’s citizenship for years, said at a campaign event at his new hotel in downtown Washington. “Now we all want to get back to making America strong and great again.”
Trump accused Democratic rival Hillary Clinton of starting the so-called “birther” controversy during the 2008 primary campaign against Obama, an accusation that independent fact-checking sites have rated as false.
The New York businessman led the birther movement aimed at Obama, who was born in Hawaii to an American mother and a Kenyan father.
The issue has not been a factor in the campaign for the Nov. 8 presidential election, but it resurfaced again in recent days, taking the focus of Trump’s campaign away from topics such as immigration, trade and the economy, which he has been using to hit Clinton.
Trump has recovered ground against Clinton in recent national opinion polls after revamping his campaign staff in August and taking steps to give a more polished performance on the campaign trail.
But the birther movement, which casts doubt over whether Obama is legally able to be president, incenses black Americans whose votes Trump has been trying to court.
Although Trump had been expected to address the issue from the start of Friday’s event, half an hour or so was taken up with testimonials on his behalf from retired military officers. His statement at the very end took up less than a minute.
Earlier, Clinton demanded Trump apologize to the president for bringing up the birther topic again.
“Barack Obama was born in America, plain and simple, and Donald Trump owes him and the American people an apology,” Clinton said in an address to the Black Women’s Association in Washington. She said Trump was trying “to delegitimize our first black president.”
“His campaign was founded on this outrageous lie. There is no erasing it in history,” Clinton said.
Trump on Thursday declined to say whether he believed Obama was born in Hawaii during an interview with The Washington Post.
“I’ll answer that question at the right time. I just don’t want to answer it yet,” Trump told the newspaper.
His campaign released a statement later in the day saying the candidate is convinced of the legitimacy of Obama’s presidency. A U.S. president must be a natural-born citizen.
Obama declined to comment on Trump’s revival of the birther issue, telling reporters he had better things to do.
“I’m shocked that a question like that would come up at a time when we’ve got so many other things to do – well, I’m not that shocked actually,” Obama said.
A few years into his presidency, Obama, the first African American to win the White House, released a longer version of his birth certificate to answer those who suggested he was not U.S. born.
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-idUSKCN11M1F3
You beat me on this one Wade.
Trump the back pedaler.
3 words, Frank Marshall Davis.
He was and always has been such a paid stooge, its not even funny. That guy has changed his views more and more the closer he gets to the White House. That and the fact that he’s already had his ceremonial National Security blackmail briefing.
“A few years into his presidency, Obama, the first African American to win the White House, released a longer version of his birth certificate to answer those who suggested he was not U.S. born.”
Is this not the same one that is wrought with inconsistencies for the birth era and State? ie, photoshopped… or Is there a different BC that is claimed to have been released, as the Trumpraeli just declared in his speech?….
Not that any of this shit matters as it relates to the outright occupation and tyranny in our midst…..
I’m sure the CIA told Donald to back off. They are our shadow government and really in control. Obama still went to college on a foreign grant.
“They are our shadow government and really in control.”
No, that would be the Rothschilds, ultimately.
The CIA are merely jewb#tches, in the end.
Even run by a Cohen.right?
at this point what difference does it make anyway? Isn’t the POTUS really the CEO the United States, Inc.? so the next CEO is going to be Hillary, since that’s what Soros says. Trump seems to be turning into the same ole’ politicians.
LOL… saw an article earlier in which Hitlery said Chump should apologize.
Just not sure which Hitlery said it.
I think it was the shorter one!
I don’t know if he genuinely changed his opinion on the matter. It sounds to me like he just wanted to end the discussion of a moot point.
Does” moot point” indicate Obama was born in this country?
He will have to address his comment, otherwise he is complicit in the perpetuation of the lie.
No — “moot point” means it doesn’t matter, because his term is over anyway.
8 years ago it was a real issue. I think Trump just conceded because it isn’t worth discussing anymore.
Mr. Shivley has educated his listeners to the fact- “there is no statute of limitations on fraud.” This means absolutely if DT were to be selected he could open the case.
He is complicit on the record of perpetuating this fraud,period.
I sent that quote to my daughter early this morning. I took a nap and seriously thought I had a nightmare. Can we officially play Bruce Springsteen “born in the USA” I think I woke up in hell!
Should Trump make iy to POTUS, I believe this matter on the Kenyan will be investigated as well as all the other fraud he’s committed. That sack of bacon will be cooked. I don’t believe for one second that Trump has or will forget this issue.
“I don’t believe for one second that Trump has or will forget this issue.”
BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! RLMAO!!!!!
SERIOUSLY?????
If you truly believe for one second that Chump is an honest BILLIONAIRE that gives a rat’s @ss about you & yours, and is going to keep ONE SINGLE CAMPAIGN PROMISE, LIKE EVERY SINGLE PRESIDENT PRECEDING HIM, then your ‘programming’ has been successfully completed.
Prime FEMA/.40 fodder.
You are correct about that and I agree with you. But the fact is “a body” will be in the white house. And the question is, which one is the greater evil? Trump may surprise/decieve all of us. None of us really know. Nothing wrong with having some hope.
“Prime FEMA/.40 fodder”…that’s pretty funny.
“And the question is, which one is the greater evil?”
And the answer is, it’s immaterial when all involved have reached the sufficient level of evil required for their membership in the hierarchy of the NWO. There is no ‘lesser’ at that point.
“Trump may surprise/decieve all of us.”
Like JFK did?
Yeah, I can see THAT happening again.
“Nothing wrong with having some hope.”
There is… if it’s misplaced, false hope.
I have one thing to say:oh my god.bwahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
He left the ‘ULTRA’ off.
Unintentionally, I’m sure.