Donald Trump's "big" announcement is not so big

On Monday, Donald Trump promised the world that he had a "very big" bombshell to drop about President Obama that could impact the election.

"I have something very, very big concerning the president of the United States," Trump said. "It's very big, bigger than anybody would know."

Turns out - and brace yourself - he actually didn't have anything at all.

The real estate mogul and reality show star announced on Wednesday that he will give $5 million to charity if Mr. Obama will release his college and passport applications and records. Trump said a check will be delivered to a charity of the president's choice if the documentation is released "to my satisfaction" by October 31.

Some "birthers" have suggested that Mr. Obama's college records would show that he transferred from a school in Indonesia, and would thus refute the overwhelming evidence that the president was born in the United States.

Trump, who was briefly atop polls of potential Republican presidential nominees last year and who has campaigned with Mitt Romney, said in a video announcement that releasing the records would "end the question and indeed the anger of many Americans."

He added that he is "very honored" to have gotten the president "to release his long-form birth certificate, or whatever it may be."

Trump's big political "surprises": A history

[gtu1019]

Trump is just shaking, like all the rest of the millionaires here in the US because Obama is making them pay higher taxes and is stopping them from robing the money from the working class.
Those Rich people are like a cancer that want every penny for themselves, Except Mr. Gates who has a lot of charities, medical researches and who by the way said "he does not mind if they increase taxes to the rich people as they have enough money to pay for it".
I hope this clown Donal trump goes bankrupt again and that this time no one will help him.
Welcome to the club you clown.

[richza123]

Barack Obama claims to have lived in Indonesia with his mother from approximately 1967 to 1971 where he assumed the surname of his step father, Lolo Soetoro and became a citizen of Indonesia. Since Obama became a citizen of Indonesia, he forfeited any claim he may have had to Natural-born citizenship in the U.S. Recall, a Natural-born citizen is one whose citizenship is achieved by natural circumstances which, if unrevoked, make it impossible for them to have citizenship loyalties to any other governing power. If a Natural-born citizen becomes a citizen of another country at any time prior to running for the office of the president, he or she is no longer eligible. Because of this forfeiture, Obama is not eligible to be president because his Natural-born status cannot be reclaimed once legal or administrative procedures are employed to repatriate him in the U.S. Also, despite Obama's claims that he remained in Indonesia during this time, there is photographic evidence placing him in Hawaii in 1969. Questions remain how and why Obama may have traveled to Hawaii at this time, including any documentation he used, which raises doubts about the validity of his origins narrative, and therefore, doubts about his identity.

[zenia5]

@richza....you need to adjust the antenna on your tinfoil hat so you can "receive" the next conspiracy theory message from the aliens.

[photovisionary1]

First off, who the hell are you that you think you know these things? Second, please provide detailed, accurate and verified sources for these claims. Third, even if some of that was true, there is this little thing called "dual-citizenship": Based on the U.S. Department of State regulation on dual citizenship (7 FAM 1162), the Supreme Court of the United States has stated that dual citizenship is a "status long recognized in the law" and that "a person may have and exercise rights of nationality in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both. The mere fact he asserts the rights of one citizenship does not without more mean that he renounces the other," (Kawakita v. U.S., 343 U.S. 717) (1952). You are an ignorant asswipe.

[jsparrow2461]

Trump is a world class pimp. I'm ashamed to admit that I ever bought a book written by him. He is whoring himself by trying to feed his lust for publicity in the name of "charity". He's despicable. You shouldn't use charities as a ploy. Hard working people that don't make a thousandth of what this moron makes, give their hard-earned money to charitable causes without expecting anything in return. Maybe he should do the same. He's the one who's a farce with not a ounce of any credibility to his name.

[chmlee]

to think that we could have actually had someone like trump run for president is frightening. a person that gets his information from internet gossip. i have checked out hundreds of claims against Obama and found virtually all were just inventions of believers in that sort of thing. in fact from hundreds of hours of research i am beginning to think that Obama is likely one of the best president we have ever had. nearly all of his decisions were right when given all the real information. can you imagine Trump with his finger on the button using internet gossip as the reason to attack another country. all his claims can be traced to popular gossip most of which has long ago been proven false. Obama would do well to ignore this attempt for trump publicity. nothing trump has claimed so far has been more than reflecting popular internet gossip. unfortunately that has a large following of people that sadly think its real.

[Kohnbaba]

I believe we should incorporate new testing for President. Why don't we have them go through the same testing as a Police Officer does? Police have to go through a psychological exam, a polygraph, a background check, written testing, oral boards (I suppose this could be likend to the debate) and all this just to carry a handgun. Yet, the President who has his/her finger on the nuclear trigger of the Nation does not have to do any of this. I, myself, would feel more confident in my decision if such testing was required. I know there are those who discount polygraphs, yet the fact that they would be willing to undergo the process would be a confidence builder. Just a thought.

[Buckwheat11]

Also, drug testing (like most of the rest of us have to go through periodically) would be great for federal office holders.

[hoosontop131]

I agree. Igo thru more security checks etc. working for a Gov. Contractor. Some states still don't require one to show his or her birth certificate. The one's that do hardly enforce it? That has change since Num Nuts got elected. Boy, does he have somethings that need serious checking! But your right, we are electing a person to be president of The United States and most consider him as the most powerful man in the world and we got democratic delegates etc. roaming the DNC and the majority are them are openingly admitting they lean more to the socialist side of the platform! Are we still in America or what? Last time I looked that definition up it is a communist plateform! Hell, you wouldn't know it from the news media! The average American probably jumps thru more hoops for a job than qualifing to run for President. Oh, that's right todays politician has no rules to follow, they already know everthing! I thought they were working for us, not trying to destroy the Constituion and turn this Country into a welfare state! The whole Country is falling apart and The media doesn't care, oh they are part of it...I forgot! Americans better wake up, pray for Gods Blessing and make more responsible decisions or we are going to lose this Great Country and people will say, What Happened? Idiots

[Buckwheat11]

I really don't see what the big deal is about this. The President should just call Trump's bluff and release the records. It is a win-win situation for all involved. A charity gets a big windfall, lots of people are helped through that donation and the President makes Trump look foolish. There is no reason not do do this. C'mon Mr. President, what have you got to lose?

[jonathancw2012]

I would think his self respect woulc be lost. Trump wasnt playing very nice. If he accepts, Trump ends up being the winner that was able to get a President of the US of A to do what he asked. If Obama doesnt, then theres a bunch of people who may be convinced that he is a bad guy for not letting the children get there money. Trump should be given a time out from media contact

[habs13]

No he should not release anything this ass isn't going to pay 5 million I don't think he even has the money. If the President does he's giving Trump just what he wants more attention.

[usmcwill20]

Tax returns have nothing to do with Romneys eligibility, or being TRULY american for that matter. If Obama really has nothing to hide, there shouldn't any hesitation at all. Trump is absolutely right, it would ease alot of all the doubts, and "conspiracies".Plus, it's all for a good cause. You guys are missing the big picture. If you wanna be communist, or a supporter of such, you're in the wrong country!!!!

[Longhornlover]

USMCWILL20: A Huge AMEN!!

[achememnon]

So you think a sitting President should waste his time answering a group of lunatics with evidence they will never believe. I mean it will never make any differnce with you right-wing luns and he shouldn't be concerned with this situation or he would have to deal with every other lunatic out there who just wants him to show info to the racist birthers.

[batazoidz]

What if Romney's 'Birther" joke wasn't a joke at all, but a threat?

According to a recent MIT poll: 73% of Republicans (Romney's base) question the place of Obama's birth.

If we accept the fact, as Romney does, that Obama was born a U.S. citizen in Hawaii, allowing public access to his Hawaiian natal records* in return for Romney's FBAR reports, which provide detailed information to the IRS regarding foreign bank accounts, should be a 'no- brainer' for Obama.

Sure, Romney can refuse, but not without paying a heavy cost from his base. Not a bad outcome in a close race for simply revealing a truth. Yet it seems Romney was able to effectively threaten Obama into silence with his August 25, 2012 "joke" about his own birth certificate. How come?

ex animo
davidfarrar
*Including Obama's Hawaiian natal hospital records

[IPonUall2]

He ought to get Romney to release his last 12 years taxes instead.
While he's at it, release his own.

[brojack44]

signseeker 1717, I dont happen to have Trump's phone number so I cant ask him to donate the money regardless of what the President does. Maybe Obama can donate his own money if he is afraid to release his information. I know Romney does'nt shy away from charity. He gave $4 million last year which was 29% of his income.

[signseeker1717]

This PR stunt from a spotlight-obsessed narcissist may actually backfire, because it has revived an issue the Romney campaign would rather forget, that is MUCH more relevant: His refusal to release his TAX records.

Why is Romney "afraid" to release his tax returns when all the other candidates have released theirs? His own FATHER made a point it, stating the public had a RIGHT to know. Since tax policy affects ALL Americans and 20-year-old grades have NO impact on us, these two types of records are not on the same level of importance.

BTW, The lion's share of Romney's "charity" goes to the Mormon Church, as part of his tithe, and of course it's ALL tax deductible. That's probably what one should expect from a Bishop who is ALSO big on offshore tax havens.