On Friday, Donald Trump tried to erase his participation in the Birther conspiracy theory about President Obama. In doing so, he used one sentence to assert his current belief that Obama was born in the U.S. The Donald devoted less than 30 seconds to resolve the situation, and as he has constantly done this election cycle, he passed the blame to Hillary Clinton.
While in the process of declaring he has officially ended Birtherism, Trump supported the claim that Clinton initially brought up the birther claims in 2008, but that has been proven to be false. Still, Trump said of the moment, “I finished it.” After this tiny speech, Clinton Campaign Manager Robby Mook released a statement on Trump’s remarks:
“Trump’s actions today were disgraceful. After five years of pushing a racist conspiracy theory into the mainstream, it was appalling to watch Trump appoint himself the judge of whether the President of the United States is American. This sickening display shows more than ever why Donald Trump is totally unfit to be president.”
Some people felt Trump’s rally on Friday was a farce, with CNN’ Jake Tapper calling it a “political Rick-roll.” Clinton wasn’t having any of Trump’s claims and unleashed a Twitter rant to lambast her opponent:
Leading the birther movement is deplorable. Attempting to say it "did a great service" to the president who Trump attacked is asinine.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
When Trump tries to deflect blame for denying that @POTUS was born in America, he is lying. https://t.co/lje3lKrZQy pic.twitter.com/yq9IWnvXUc
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
Again, Trump turns his faults on others. Psychologists call it "projecting." Kids call it "I'm rubber, you're glue." https://t.co/lKDDD0wwsn
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
What Trump just did is a disgrace.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
This shouldn't have to be said: You don’t just get to say someone else did the worst things you’ve done. It doesn’t work. No one buys it.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
Trump has spent years peddling a racist conspiracy aimed at undermining the first African American president. He can't just take it back.
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 16, 2016
Clinton’s Twitter has been known to send off some pretty witty tweets, but today, the Democratic presidential nominee was fired up about Trump’s false claims. Clinton allies have also voiced their displeasure of Trump on Twitter.
My dad was born in Poland. Do you know how many people ever asked me whether or not I was born in America? Nobody ever asked me that.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) September 16, 2016
It's been 5 years, and Trump's still pushing the notion that @POTUS isn't American. pic.twitter.com/TApNqSOcvN
— Tim Kaine (@timkaine) September 16, 2016
Friday has been a complete whirlwind with Trump’s birther issues. President Obama made light of the situation by saying he is pretty confident of his citizenship, and Trump’s lackluster rally didn’t help matters. Many of Trump’s crazy comments get lost in the 24-hour news cycle, but this is a matter that has hung over him since 2011. It’s an issue that will surely be discussed again.
