Until he says it with his own mouth, please see below for a sampling of the many times that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has argued that President Obama wasn’t born in the United States.
That begins with yesterday where, in an interview with the Washington Post, he refused to say that he believed President Obama is American.
MAY 2016: Trump On His Birtherism: “I Don’t Talk About it Anymore.” “Wolf Blitzer: Let me just clarify. The wholebirther thing, where do you stand on that? Donald Trump: I don’t talk about it anymore, because every time I talk about it, it becomes the story, so I don’t want to waste my time talking about it anymore. Blitzer: But she’s going to raise the issue against you. Trump: I don’t care. It doesn’t bo – I’m going to raise it against her.” [“Situation Room,” CNN, 5/4/16]
JANUARY 2016: Trump On President Obama’s Birthplace: “Who Knows?” “Wolf Blitzer: Because you know your critics are saying you’re doing to Ted Cruz what you tried to do to President Obama, where he — Donald Trump: Who knows about Obama? Blitzer: His mother was a U.S. citizen, born in Kansas. Was he a natural-born citizen? Trump: Who knows? Who cares right now? We’re talking about something else, OK. I have my own theory on Obama. Some day I’ll give — I’ll write a book. I’ll do another book. It will do very successfully.” [“Situation Room,” CNN, 1/7/16]
NOVEMBER 2015: Trump Called Obama “A Threat To Our Country.” “I think he’s a threat to our country. I mean he must have some kind of a thing going because, you know, when you see that he won’t even call them by their name, attack after attack after attack. It’s radical Islamic terrorism and he won’t even acknowledge it — it’s like they’re coming out of Denmark or something.” [Jeff Kuehner Show, 11/18/15]
SEPTEMBER 2015: Trump On Whether He Could Support A Muslim President: “Some Say It Already Happened.” “”Would I be comfortable? I don’t know if we have to address it right now. Some people have said it already happened.” [“Meet the Press,” NBC, 9/20/15]
SEPTEMER 2015: Trump On Whether President Obama Was Born In The US: “I Don’t Talk About It Anymore.”“Stephen Colbert: I’m going to throw you a big fat meatball for you to hit out of the park right now, OK? Donald Trump: OK, I like it. Good. Colbert: This is the last time you ever have to address this question if you hit the bill. It’s a big old – there’s like sauce all over my hands this meatball is so big. Trump: I want to hear this one. Colbert: Barack Obama – born in the United States? Go. Was he? It’s a meatball! Trump: I know. Colbert: It’s hanging out there. Right there. Come on. Trump: I don’t talk about it anymore.” [“The Late Show,” CBS, 9/22/15]
JULY 2015: Trump On Obama: “I Don’t Know If He Loves America.” “President Obama – I’d never thought he would be a good president because I didn’t think he was qualified, but I Thought one thing that he would do, he would be a great cheerleader for this country. He’s been horrible. I don’tk now if he loves America. I hope he loves America.” [Donald Trump, Family Leadership Summit, Ames, IA, 7/18/15; American Bridge Tracking Footage]
JULY 2015: Trump Said He Still Didn’t Know Where President Obama Was Born: “I Don’t Know Why He Wouldn’t Release His Records.” “Anderson Cooper: No. I’m asking now, do you say that President Obama was born in the United States? Donald Trump: No. I don’t know. I really don’t know. I mean, I don’t know why he wouldn’t release his records. But you know, honestly, I don’t want to get in it. He came up with this thing, all of a sudden. Remember this one thing. I’m only going to get one thing because I’m about jobs, the economy, and I’m about the military and taking care of all that.” [“AC360,” CNN, 7/9/15]
- Trump: “Hillary Clinton Was A Birther.” And let me just say something. You know that Hillary Clinton was abirther. She wanted the records and fought like hell. People forget. Do you know, John McCain was a birther? Wanted those records. They couldn’t get the records. Hillary failed. John McCain failed. Trump was able to get them to give something. I don’t know what the hell it was, but it doesn’t matter because I am off that subject.” [“AC360,” CNN, 7/9/15]
FEBRUARY 2015: Trump: “I Don’t Know Where He Was Born.” “Hey look, [Obama] wrote a book when he was a young man and it said, ‘born in Kenya, blah blah blah,’ I don’t know where he was born.” [Donald Trump, CPAC, National Harbor, MD, 2/27/15]
- Trump Questioned The Authenticity Of Obama’s Birth Certificate: “Now All We Need To Do Is Find Out Whether Or Not It Was Real.” “Now, whether or not that was a real certificate, because a lot of people question it … I certainly question it. But he didn’t do it for Hillary Clinton, he didn’t do it for [Arizona Sen.] John McCain, but he did it for me. So in one sense, I’m proud of it. Now all we need to do is find out whether or not it was real.” [Donald Trump, CPAC, National Harbor, MD, 2/27/15]
MAY 2014: Trump Claimed There Was A “Very Good Chance” That Obama Lied About Being Born In Kenya To Get Admitted to College. ““Look, there were three things that could happen, and one of them did happen. He was perhaps born in Kenya. Very simple. He was perhaps born in this country but said he was born in Kenya, because if you said you were born in Kenya you got aid, and you got into colleges. And people were doing it. So perhaps he was born in this country and that has a very big chance. … Or who knows?” [Donald Trump, National Press Club Luncheon, Washington, DC, 5/27/14]
MAY 2014: Trump On Obama’s Birth Certificate: “A Lot Of People Feel It Wasn’t A Proper Certificate.” [Ireland TV3, 5/20/14]
AUGUST 2013: Trump On Obama’s Birth Certificate: “Some People Say That Was Not His Birth Certificate. I’m Saying I Don’t Know.” Was there a birth certificate? You tell me. Some people say that was not his birth certificate. I’m saying I don’t know. Nobody knows. And you don’t know, either, Jonathan. You’re a smart guy, you don’t know, either.” [“This Week,” ABC, 8/11/13]
MAY 2012: Trump On Obama: “A Lot Of People Want To See His College Transcripts. They’re Not Looking At His Marks, His Grades. […] They Want To See, What Does He Say About Place Of Birth.” “A lot of people want to see his college transcripts. They’re not looking at his marks, his grades. […] They want to see, what does he say about place of birth. Now, those transcripts have disappeared, nobody seems to be able to get them.” [“Squawkbox,” CNBC, 5/29/12]
APRIL 2011: Trump On The President’s Birth Certificate: “I’ve Been Told That It’s Not There And It Doesn’t Exist.” “Anderson Cooper: We’ve interviewed the former director of the Hawaii Department of Health, a Republican, one of two state officials who has actually seen the birth certificate held in a vault. She said she’s not been contacted by your people. I mean, isn’t that somebody they should talk to if they’re there? Donald Trump: I’ve been told very recently Anderson that the birth certificate is missing. I’ve been told that it’s not there and it doesn’t exist. And if that’s the — Cooper: Who told you that?Trump: That’s a big problem. I just heard that two days ago from somebody. Cooper: From your investigators? Trump: I don’t want to say who, but I’ve been told that the birth certificate is not there. It’s missing and I feel badly about that, because I’d love him to produce the birth certificate so you can fight one-on-one. If you look at what he’s doing as president with fuel prices and everything else, you can do a great fight one-on-one. You don’t need this issue.” [“AC360,” CNN, 4/25/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: “There’s A Real Question About The Birth Certificate. There’s A Real Question About His Own Citizenship.” “Stephanopoulos: You say it’s all about the messenger. A lot of Republicans think you’re a flawed messenger for the party. Karl Rove, again over the weekend, saying you’re a joke candidate, if you continue to raise questions about President Obama’s citizenship. Donald Trump: There’s a real question about the birth certificate. There’s a real question about the– his own– his own citizenship. Stephanopoulos: There– there is– there is no question. Trump: But– but let me just say– Stephanopoulos: He’s got a certificate of live birth that is recognized by the State Department. Trump: George, George. George, I know exactly what you’re getting at. Stephanopoulos: The facts. Trump: But for some reason– no, they’re not the facts. He doesn’t have a birth certificate or he hasn’t provided. He’s given a certificate of live birth. It’s a much different instrument. Stephanopoulos: A certificate of live birth meets the standard in the State Department– Trump: Not the same.Stephanopoulos: –for any one citizenship. Trump: George. Stephanopoulos: There were contemporaneous reports in– Trump: George, they have co-opted you.” [ABC News, 4/19/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: Obama “Was Born ‘Barry Soetero.’” “Look, he was born ‘Barry Soetero.’ Somewhere along the line, he changed his name.” [“Hannity,” Fox News, 4/15/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: “His Grandmother Said Very Plainly That He Was Born In Kenya.” [“On the Record,” Fox News,4/11/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: Obama “Doesn’t Have A Birth Certificate Or He’s Not Showing It.” “I don’t like to talk about this issue too much because I really would rather talk about China, I would really rather talk about what OPEC is doing to destroy us. I would really rather talk about other things. But I’ll be honest with you, I started this and I heard the question for the first time four weeks ago and I assumed, although I had heard about it for years, I assumed that he was born in the United States, meaning in Hawaii. I assumed that. The more I go into it, the more suspect it is. Now, he doesn’t have his birth certificate or he’s not showing it. And I wish he did have one, but he doesn’t have it. There is a huge difference between a birth certificate — and I can show you mine, it’s upstairs and it’s in great detail and it’s certified by everybody and it’s got signatures all over it. It’s got a birth certificate. He shows a certificate of live birth. And a certificate of live birth is easy to get and it is not the same thing. It’s a totally different thing. And in many states a certificate of live birth you can’t even get married or you can’t get a driver’s license with it. The fact is his own family doesn’t know which hospital he was born in this Hawaii. And here’s one other thing, wherever you were born, I can go to that hospital, and I can find out the name of your doctor, the name of the — the number of your room…” [“State of the Union,” CNN, 4/10/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump Claimed Obama Spent $2 Million On Legal Fees To Keep His Birth Certificate Hidden. “”I just say very simply why doesn’t he show his birth certificate? Why has he spent over $2 million in legal fees to keep this quiet and to keep this silent?” [“State of the Union,” CNN, 4/10/11]
- Trump Claimed Obama “Spent $2 Million In Legal Fees Trying To Get Away From This Issue.” [“Today Show,” NBC, 4/7/11]
- PolitiFact Rated Trump’s Claim About Obama’s Legal Fees “False.” [PolitiFact, 4/12/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: “His Grandmother In Kenya Said He Was Born In Kenya.” [“Your World With Neil Cavuto,” Fox News, 4/8/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump Said He Had “Real Doubts” That The President Was Born In The United States. “Three weeks ago when I started, I thought he was probably born in this country. Right now, I have some real doubts. […] I have people that actually have been studying it and they cannot believe what they’re finding.” [“Today Show,” NBC, 4/7/11]
APRIL 2011: Trump: “The Grandmother In Kenya Is On Record Saying He Was Born In Kenya.” “His grandmother in Kenya said, ‘Oh no, he was born in Kenya and I was there and I witnessed the birth.’ Now, she’s on tape and I think that tape’s going to be produced fairly soon …The grandmother in Kenya is on record saying he was born in Kenya.” [“Morning Joe,” MSNBC, 4/7/11]
- Trump: “His Grandmother In Kenya Said He Was Born In Kenya And She Was There And Witnessed The Birth.” “His grandmother in Kenya said he was born in Kenya, and she was there and witnessed the birth. He doesn’t have a birth certificate or he hasn’t shown it. He has what’s called a certificate of live birth. That is something that’s easy to get. When you want a birth certificate, it’s hard to get.”[“Today Show,” NBC, 4/7/11]
- PolitiFact Rated Trump’s Claims About Obama’s Grandmother “False.” [PolitiFact, 4/7/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump: “I’m Proud To Be” A Birther. “I don’t feel heat; I think he’s got heat. Look, he cannot give a birth certificate. You can, I can, I got one yesterday, it took me a day, 24 hours, I got one. A lot of the so called birthers, these are great people, these are really great American people. These are hard working, unbelievable, salt of the earth people. I’m proud to be, I mean I’m very proud of it. I don’t like the term [birther]; I think it is a demeaning term to the people that believe that he should have a birth certificate, that some people believe he was not born in this country. And when people ask me that question I just can’t be sure because nobody knows.” [Laura Ingraham Show, 3/30/11]
- Trump: “The Birthers, They Got Labeled And They Got Labeled So Negatively, And Even The Word ‘Birther’ Is A Negative Word.” “I can find the information. I guarantee you my hospital has all the information, how much my parents paid for that unfortunate day when I was brought into this world, this rather crazy world. But the fact is, nobody has any information. And his people in the United States don’t even know which hospital — his relatives don’t even know which hospital he was born in. So it’s a very strange situation. That’s all I can tell you. And, you know, it’s a very sad thing because the people, the birthers, they got labeled and they got labeled so negatively, and even the word ‘birther’ is a negative word. And I always tell people, I was a very good student; I went to the best college; I went to great schools; I had very high aptitude. Because, if you come out and say, and even question, the press goes wild. They get angry at even the question. And the fact is, if he wasn’t born in this country, he shouldn’t be the president of the United States.” [“State of the Union,” CNN, 4/10/11]
- Trump Called Birthers “Great Americans.” “A birther is a person that wants – these are great Americans in many cases, in most cases. They want to see the president was born in this country.” [“On the Record,” Fox News, 3/28/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump: “He Doesn’t Have A Birth Certificate Or, If He Does, There’s Something On That Certificate That Is Very Bad For Him.” ““He cannot give a birth certificate. He doesn’t have a birth certificate or, if he does, there’s something on that certificate that is very bad for him. Now somebody told me, and I have no idea whether this is bad for him or not but perhaps it would be, that where it says ‘religion’ it might have ‘Muslim,’ and if you’re a Muslim, you don’t change your religion by the way, but somebody said, ‘Maybe that’s the reason he doesn’t want to show it.’ I don’t think so. I just don’t think he has a birth certificate and everybody has a birth certificate.” [Laura Ingraham Show, 3/30/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump On The President’s Birth Certificate: “He May Have One But There Is Something On That Birth Certificate — Maybe Religion, Maybe It Says He’s A Muslim, I Don’t Know. Maybe He Doesn’t Want That. Or, He May Not Have One.” “”I have a birth certificate. People have birth certificates. He doesn’t have a birth certificate. He may have one but there is something on that birth certificate — maybe religion, maybe it says he’s a Muslim, I don’t know. Maybe he doesn’t want that. Or, he may not have one.” [“O’Reilly Factor,” Fox News, 3/30/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump On Birth Announcements In Newspapers: “I’ve Never Seen One.” “”I grew up with Wall Street geniuses. What they do in terms of fraud, and how they change documents — and I’ll tell you something, if you notice, those dates were three days later. And here’s what I ask people — who puts announcements? Two poor people, a man and a woman with no money, they have a baby. There’s announcements in the newspaper? Nelson Rockefeller doesn’t put announcements in. I’ve never seen one.” [“O’Reilly Factor,” Fox News, 3/30/11]
- Trump: “An Ad Like That Could’ve Been Staged.” “When I hear he took an ad in the paper, his parents, these are poor people, when did you ever hear of anybody taking an ad in a paper? I see so much fraud in the world. An ad like that could’ve been staged. I don’t mean staged at the time. I mean could have been computer-generated five years ago, eight years ago, two years ago, it could’ve been computer-generated. The Rockefeller family doesn’t buy ads in a newspaper and now you’re going to have two poor people putting an ad in a newspaper that their son was born? There’s something fishy about the whole thing. Very fishy.” [Laura Ingraham Show, 3/30/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump: “I Want To See His Birth Certificate.” [“On the Record,” Fox News, 3/28/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump: “I’m Starting To Wonder…Whether Or Not [Obama] Was Born In This Country” [“Fox and Friends,” Fox News, 3/28/11]
MARCH 2011: Trump On Obama: “There’s Something On That Birth Certificate That He Doesn’t Like.” “Donald Trump: I can’t rely on some newspaper that they showed that — Barbara Walters: In order to become president of the United States — Trump: I want him to show his birth certificate. I want him to show his birth certificate. Whoopi Goldberg: Why?Trump: There’s something on that birth certificate that he doesn’t like. Goldberg: Oh, my God. That is just — Walters: That’s a terrible thing to say. Trump: Whoopi, I love you. I’m telling you. Goldberg: Donald, I love you, too. I think that’s the biggest pile of dog mess I’ve heard in ages. Trump: Let him show — Goldberg: It’s not cause he’s black, is it? Trump: That has nothing to do with it. Goldberg: OK — because I’ve never heard any white president asked to be shown the birth certificate. Trump: Everybody does. Everybody does.” [“The View,” ABC, 3/23/11]
FEBRUARY 2011: Trump On Obama: “The People That Went To School With Him, They Never Saw Him, They Don’t Know Who He Is.” “Our current president came out of nowhere. Came out of nowhere. In fact, I’ll go a step further: the people that went to school with him, they never saw him, they don’t know who he is. It’s crazy.” [Donald Trump, CPAC, Washington, DC, 2/11/11]
- PolitiFact Rated Trump’s Claim About Obama’s College Years “Pants On Fire.” [PolitiFact, 2/14/11]
Published: Sep 15, 2016