Trump: ‘I don’t know’ if Obama was born in US

by Elliot Smilowitz - 07/09/15 10:16 PM ET

Donald Trump says he’s still not convinced President Obama was born in America, but that he’s not interested in rehashing the issue.

“I don’t know. I really don’t know,” the 2016 Republican presidential candidate told CNN when asked on Thursday. “I don’t know why he wouldn’t release his records.”

{mosads}Trump insisted he doesn’t want that debate to define his candidacy, though.

“Honestly, I don’t want to get into it,” he said. “I’m about jobs, I’m about the military, I’m about doing the right thing for this country.”

Obama in 2011 released his long-form birth certificate after years of rumors that he was born outside the country. Trump, among the loudest voices pressuring the president to release his information, took credit for the release at the time, saying he was “very proud” of himself.

The birth certificate did not sate Trump’s desire for more information about Obama’s early life. In 2012, Trump offered the president $5 million to a charity of his choice to release his college transcripts and passport history.

Tags Donald Trump