Donald Trump explains why he still won't admit President Obama was born in the U.S.
On Thursday evening, Donald Trump invited a reporter from The Washington Post on to his plane, and the reporter asked if Trump — a leading proponent of the falsehood that President Obama was born outside the U.S., and is thus ineligible to be president — is now ready to acknowledge that Obama was born in Hawaii. He wasn't. "I'll answer that question at the right time," Trump said. "I just don't want to answer it yet."
His campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, recently tried to put the "birther" issue behind the campaign, telling CNN earlier this week that Trump believes Obama was born in the U.S. When reminded of that, Trump responded: "It's okay. She's allowed to speak what she thinks. I want to focus on jobs. I want to focus on other things." Thursday night, Trump's campaign released a statement saying "Mr. Trump believes that President Obama was born in the United States," blaming Hillary Clinton's campaign for first raising the issue (PolitiFact rates that claim False), and taking credit for bringing "this ugly incident to its conclusion by successfully compelling President Obama to release his birth certificate. Mr. Trump did a great service to the President and the country."
So why won't Trump himself renounce his aggressive promotion of this conspiracy theory himself and just admit Obama is American-born? "I don't talk about it anymore," Trump said. "The reason I don't is because then everyone is going to be talking about it as opposed to jobs, the military, the vets, security." When The Post said that just saying the magic words that Obama was born in Hawaii might help his sizable problem with black voters, Trump reportedly glared at the reporter and said, "I think it hangs over the reporters."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In other news, Trump said he won't release his taxes because of an IRS audit (son Donald Jr. just said his father's tax returns would just "detract from his main message") and that he won't release any more health information before the election. Below, you can watch a lively discussion on Thursday's Kelly File about Trump's lingering birtherism shadow. Peter Weber
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Did Kamala Harris kill brat?
Talking Point Pop culture phenomenon co-opted by presidential candidate sparks claims brat is over
By Jamie Timson, The Week UK Published
-
Paris Olympics: will it be a success?
Today's Big Question Organisers hope the 'spectacle' of the 2024 Games will lift the cloud of negativity that has hung over the build-up
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 20 - 26 July
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By The Week Staff Published
-
Netanyahu makes controversial address
Speed Reads Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech to Congress denounced Gaza war protestors
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published