Donald Trump finally finds his official birth certificate
Donald Trump really is an American citizen, documents released Tuesday finally verify. While bloviating at length about the validity of President Obama's birth certificate on a variety of talk shows through most of March, the billionaire real estate developer released what he thought was his own proof of citizenship on Monday, only to discover that he was wrong.
Indeed, the document Trump handed over to a conservative website Monday turned out to be a "certificate of birth" and not an official birth certificate. After cries of hypocrisy rang through the blogosphere and commenters pointed out all the reasons why what he produced wasn't what he proclaimed it was, on Tuesday Trump's team got their hands on his actual birth certificate.
"A 'birth certificate' and a 'certificate of live birth' are in no way the same thing, even though in some cases they use some of the same words," Thuy Colayco, from Trump's staff, wrote to ABC News. "One officially confirms and records a newborn child’s identity and details of his or her birth, while the other only confirms that someone reported the birth of a child. Also, a 'certificate of live birth' is very easy to get because the standards are much lower, while a 'birth certificate' is only gotten through a long and detailed process wherein identity must be proved beyond any doubt."
Colayco went on to explain that a certificate of live birth would not be accepted to obtain a passport or a driver's license, whereas a birth certificate could.
Although some Republicans, like Trump, are questioning the validity of Obama's birth certificate, one conservative who is likely to run for president in 2012 is making it clear that he is not a birther.
"I, for one, do not believe that we should be raising that issue," former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said Tuesday of the president's birth certificate on MSNBC's "Morning Joe." "I think President Obama was born in the United States."
RELATED:
Barack Obama's birth certificate revealed
Alan Keyes stokes Obama birth certificate controversy
For Hawaii governor, discrediting anti-Obama 'birthers' is a top priority
Donald Trump releases his birth certificate, demands Obama does the same
Note: Andrew Malcolm is currently on vacation.
-- Tony Pierce
twitter.com/busblog
Photo: Donald Trump speaks during the 38th annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington on Feb. 10, 2011. Credit: Alex Brandon / Associated Press
Way to go TRUMP! I thought it was hilarious that the left wing media started making fun of you for your hospital birth certificate. Then you took out your OFFICIAL birth certificate and you made these pundits look like a fool.
TRUMP 2012
Posted by: The Acqua | March 29, 2011 at 02:29 PM
B FD! I always sort of liked Donald Trump, and it is sad to see him sinking this low.
Posted by: Martha F, | March 29, 2011 at 02:31 PM
Can't believe this repulsive man thinks he has a chance to be President!
Posted by: Barbara Booker | March 29, 2011 at 02:32 PM
OK, now Obama needs to do the same and we all can move on with our lives.
Posted by: Dave | March 29, 2011 at 02:34 PM
Huh, cool, now if those lambasting Trump for producing a "Certificate of Live Birth" could actually produce Barack Obama's Birth Certificate instead of "Certificate of Live Birth", we'd really be making progress. I think Trump released the wrong document intentionally to draw attention to the hypocrisy on this issue.
Posted by: Pete | March 29, 2011 at 02:34 PM
SO FREAKING SICK OF THIS!
A "certification of live birth" can and IS the same as a birth certificate!
It depends on the jurisdictions!
My two elder children were born in NYC and received "birth certificates."
My youngest child was born in an upstate NY city and ONLY received a "Certificate of Live Birth" -- nothing else!
So, all of my children were born in New York, but one is NOT a US citizen?
Puleeze!
Guess I have to pray she doesn't run for President (or many Americans reconnect their brains by the time she is 35!)
Posted by: Aware_and_scared | March 29, 2011 at 02:35 PM
The Director of the Hawaii Dept. of Vital Statistics has certified that he has a valid birth certificate on file for Obama. Only a MORON would say that is insufficient, as any document provided by Obama would have to be certified by the Director of the Hawaii Dept. of Vital STatistics.
Bottom line: Tea Party "birthers" are too stupid to even understand what they are talking about.
Posted by: doubting thomas | March 29, 2011 at 02:35 PM
when running against alan keyes for the illinois senate,keyes said to obama,"you're not even a u.s. citizen."to which obama replied,"but i'm not running for the presidency."
Posted by: alamodefender | March 29, 2011 at 02:39 PM
I think Donald is not showing us his real hair. He either wears a wig or dyes his hair or does both.
We need change the constitution so all candidates for the office have to show votes their real hair and prove it is real.
Posted by: David | March 29, 2011 at 02:41 PM
Trump? You are a fake from the word GO! An admitted thief and liar, I don't care if you swindled Gaddafi or Mother Teresa! A thief is a thief as a liar is a liar. Either one is not acceptable as a leader of the free world nor as a representative of me, a citizen of this great country. I've wasted my time reading about you in the political realm where your only contribution is obfuscation and self-promotion.
Should America ever consider you as a realistic candidate for any public office I will offer myself up to the front of the protests and civil disobedience that would be sure to follow.
Posted by: T. Murray | March 29, 2011 at 02:42 PM
I've always thought that Donald Trump is a clown with money. He proves it constantly. I don't think I would vote for a clown as president. We would not laugh out loud!
Posted by: REYES BERRIOS | March 29, 2011 at 02:42 PM
God Bless you, if you vote for this idiot!
Posted by: Qurious Chocolate | March 29, 2011 at 02:45 PM
I'm not sure if anyone feels the same way, but it amazes me what makes it into the news these days. To find an entire article about Donald Trump's birth certificate right ABOVE an article about 56 safety violations in U.S. nuclear plants blows my mind. For me this raises one important question: Who cares?
Posted by: Ken | March 29, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Very interesting. In my case, in order to get a birth certificate, I had to send in my Certificate Of Live Birth, along with a fee.
Then, I received my Birth Certificate.
It strikes me that the Certificate Of Live Birth is the first document, and that no one really went to the hospital to check on the validity of the Certificate Of Live Birth.
Posted by: Will | March 29, 2011 at 02:46 PM
Very interesting. In my case, in order to get a birth certificate, I had to send in my Certificate Of Live Birth, along with a fee.
Then, I received my Birth Certificate.
It strikes me that the Certificate Of Live Birth is the first document, and that no one really went to the hospital to check on the validity of the Certificate Of Live Birth.
Posted by: Will | March 29, 2011 at 02:46 PM
I'm so glad Trump was able to find his birith certificate, maybe he can help Obama locate his...
Posted by: Todd | March 29, 2011 at 02:46 PM
His Certificate of Birth only proves he was born, not hatched. But that still needs verification.
Posted by: amadeopuzzo | March 29, 2011 at 02:47 PM
As far as I am concerned I will never believ another word Pawlenty has to say. He could of kept his mouth shut. There is no way he could possibly believe Obama is eligible. Pawlenty has lost it, and is just repeating GOP talking points. Trump on the other hand seems to be the only one with any balls. Is it so difficult for Obama just to release his records, I am sick of the GOP. They are a bunch of yellow bellied sap suckers , lets buy some more kleenex for the speaker. What this country needs is a Patton, and I believe Trump is just ballsy enough grab Obama by the balls and kick his ass out of office like Patton did in WWII. Donalds got my vote.
Posted by: johnny b obrien | March 29, 2011 at 02:48 PM
Looks fake to me, I say let him run anyway, should be entertaining.
Posted by: dev-null | March 29, 2011 at 02:48 PM
yes I would support donald as president
Posted by: joy | March 29, 2011 at 02:50 PM
Score:
Trump birth certificate 1
Obama 0
I think I'm going to stop providing mine when asked by the DMV etc. If the leader of our free country doesn't need to show proof why should I?
Posted by: Lex | March 29, 2011 at 02:50 PM
yes i would support donald for president
Posted by: joy | March 29, 2011 at 02:51 PM
Maybe...just maybe President Obama was born on a boat outside of Hawaii, possibly in international waters? Maybe his Mother demanded she be taken to a hospital immediately since she was married to an already married man from Kenya? Who knows................and really what's the point since he was elected.
I didn't vote for him.
Posted by: seedobecome | March 29, 2011 at 02:51 PM
Looks like they will spend 8 yrs trying to fight this battle....
Posted by: steve | March 29, 2011 at 02:51 PM
jerk.....
Posted by: keith | March 29, 2011 at 02:53 PM
Good for you, Donald. Now do us all a favor and leave the US you pathetic egomaniac stooge.
Posted by: Jim | March 29, 2011 at 02:53 PM
obama is illegal
Posted by: Alex Mitchell | March 29, 2011 at 02:57 PM
"Colayco went on to explain that a certificate of live birth would not be accepted to obtain a passport or a driver's license, whereas a birth certificate could"
This is simply not true. I received a passport based on a certificate of live birth. Under Hawaiian law, where they no longer maintain the original birth certificates, certificates of live birth have the exact same legal status as any other birth certificate.
To obtain a passport, you must prove US citizenship, which can be accomplished via several documents, one being a certified birth certificate.
According to the State Dept:
"A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar's signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Please note, some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes."
http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html#step3first
Hawaii's certificate of live birth (as well as other states) meets these requirements.
Given Trump's gaffe with his own birth certificate, I don't trust him or his assistants to know what they are talking about.
Posted by: Chris | March 29, 2011 at 02:58 PM
Donald Trump's middle name is John which is derived from the Hebrew Yochanan. Therefore, Donald Trump must be Jewish.
Posted by: Jan | March 29, 2011 at 03:00 PM
As Mr Trump cannot find his *ss with both hands, I am impressed that he found his birth certificate so quickly, (probably had the KGB print it up...).
Why is this news?
Posted by: kamikrazee | March 29, 2011 at 03:05 PM
What's good for goose is always good for the gander Donald.
Posted by: Jeff | March 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
The question isn't whether Trump is a U.S. citizen. The question is whether he is a NATURAL-BORN U.S. citizen!!!
Many birthers allege that to be a natural-born citizen, both of your parents had to be U.S. citizens at birth. Trump's birth certificate says his mother was born in Scotland, but not whether she later became a U.S. citizen. So how do we know Trump is eligible to be president?
Moreover, it's a real crummy and pixellated scan. What if it was hastily put together by Trump's associates? How can we know it's legitimate if the original physical document isn't subjected to thorough scrutiny by Polarik and other self-proclaimed experts?
WHAT ARE YOU HIDING MR. TRUMP?????
(As a non-birther who's heard it all against Obama, tongue planted firmly in cheek.)
Posted by: John__C | March 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
He got it at Wall Mart he had a coupon
Posted by: John | March 29, 2011 at 03:06 PM
Since we seem intent on devolving into a nation of big business cheats and liars, it might be appropriate to elect The Donald as swindler-in-chief. I'm sure he would really do a good job at selling off what's left of this country to anyone who has a fistful of money.
Posted by: David | March 29, 2011 at 03:08 PM
Yeah, Trump took ONE WHOLE DAY to present his birth certificate.
Meanwhile, we are approaching THREE YEARS since Obama was first asked to present his. Why won't Obama present his? The answer I hear is that it is beneath him. Apparently, the American people who didn't vote for him are beneath him.
Your flippant headline makes me sick, LA times.
Posted by: ID | March 29, 2011 at 03:09 PM
Let's just see Obama's birth certificate. We all have to provide one to get a passport. He travels the world. Should not be too tough.
Posted by: mgandrew | March 29, 2011 at 03:09 PM
GIVE IT A FREAKIN' REST! AT LEAST TRUMP CAN PROVE HE'S LEGIT.
Posted by: Bluejeans | March 29, 2011 at 03:10 PM
Why isn't anyone bringing up the "Vetting" process? The FBI performs a strenuous one on every Presidential candidate. To say this man hasn't produced a birth-certificate is like saying the FBI forgot (in 2008) to check that, "small item", off the list. So either that or multiple federal agencies, under a GOP administration, was a participant in illegally electing the country's first non- American Black President. Ridiculous? Yeah, that's my point exactly. And regardless of what you may think, The President of the United States, nor anyone for that matter, doesn't have to prove anything to anyone more than once. Especially to a Billionaire who doesn't know the difference between a legal document and a hand-written souvenir your parents obtain from the hospital a day after your born. There's so much hate for this President, that people will make themselves look like idiots to make him look bad. Pathetic.
Posted by: dBranch | March 29, 2011 at 03:12 PM
@alamodefender Citing, please?
Posted by: Nathan Nelson | March 29, 2011 at 03:13 PM
I'd vote for Donald Duck before i'd vote for this guy...
Posted by: andrew | March 29, 2011 at 03:14 PM
That which we call a birther, by any other name, would still be an irrational , TFH-wearing bigot living in a state of denial.
Every time a birther is shown a web link to, or hard copy of Obama’s official birth certificate (you know, the one that is recognized by the federal government when applying for a passport), they pull the equivalent of a 9-year old covering his ears and shouting “nyah, nyah, nyah, I can’t hear you!”
You can lead right wingers to reality, but you cannot make them embrace it.
Each state has its own standard for an official record of birth.
You have to look at the motivations of the majority of the birthers to understand why they simply cannot “let go”. Fundamentally, it comes down to the following mindset: “I cannot accept THAT man in the White House because… . (fill in the blank).”
Just about ANY reason will do — any excuse that will legitimize their race-based outrage. If it wasn’t about a birth certificate, it would be about his middle name. (He’s a closet Muslim, you know.)
In addition, there are a handful of unscrupulous politicians and pundits who, although not necessarily racist themselves ,have no problem capitalizing on the bigotry of others by fueling their fear and hatred of Obama in order to score political points or further a personal agenda.
Enter “The Donald” …
Why do I get the feeling that Trump has a bust of PT Barnum proudly displayed on his mantle?
He seems to regard the vast majority of Americans as a bunch of suckers, eagerly clinging to every self-serving comment that he makes, regardless of whether his “insights” have any basis in fact.
Trump is little more than Meg Whitman with a necktie. “Vote for me. I’m filthy rich, I’m bombastic, I don’t believe in federal regulations, I know how to cut subordinates down to size, …. and by the way, did I say I’m rich?”
No surprise that Republicans cannot learn from history, since they are continually revising it.
Posted by: labman57 | March 29, 2011 at 03:16 PM
Oh please oh please oh please be the Republican Presidential nominee, Mr. Trump. You (or that ridiculous Sarah Palin) would absolutely be smothered running against Obama.
Posted by: Steve | March 29, 2011 at 03:16 PM
A certificate of live birth is received for the purpose of obtaining a certified birth certificate. If you only have the certificate of live birth then you obviously did not order the certified birth certificate. I have both for my children and could not have gotten the birth certificate without the first document. I, on the other hand, have a British birth certificate even though I was born on an Air Force base and have my US Citizenship. My proof of citizenship is a form issued by the State Department acknowledging my birth abroad to an American parent in the Air Force. I couldn't even get my drivers license changed from one state to another without. If I ever lose it, I'm in hot water!
Posted by: Not Confused | March 29, 2011 at 03:16 PM
It takes a real dummy to confuse a hospital certificate with the official.
Trump is obviously making noises about running for president to generate buzz.
What kind of person does that? :)
@aware and scared: the form you have for your youngest child is not a valid birth certificate. You will need to apply at your courthouse if you want to get a copy of the real one.
Posted by: Doug Stephens | March 29, 2011 at 03:16 PM
TRUMP/RUBIO 2012
read it an weep you brainwashed liberals.
Posted by: bondud | March 29, 2011 at 03:17 PM
Well... at least Trump produced something! Where is Mr. O's .... er... anything?
Posted by: P.Cline | March 29, 2011 at 03:18 PM
Acqua, in what way did he make anyone besides himself look like a fool? No one ever said he couldn't get a real birth certificate. Just like Obama, he was born in America, and just like Obama, he's now produced his birth certificate.
Unlike Obama, however, it took The Donald two tries. That's the funny part.
"In my case, in order to get a birth certificate, I had to send in my Certificate Of Live Birth, along with a fee."
Will, that is simply factually incorrect. There are hospital birth certificates and state-certified birth certificates. Donald's first attempt was the former, the second attempt was the latter. That the idea that "Certificate of Live Birth" somehow means something different than "Birth Certificate" is gaining traction in America is simply yet another example of how easily we fall prey to blatantly false propaganda. A birth certificate and a certificate of birth are the same thing.
Posted by: David | March 29, 2011 at 03:19 PM
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/13/bobirthcertificate.jpg
Check out Mr. Obama's Birth Cert. issued by the State of Hawaii and posted by LA Times.
Posted by: thewordII | March 29, 2011 at 03:21 PM
Lets hope Mr Trump recalls How Many Times he has been involved in Chapter Eleven Proceedings in his Property Deals .
Posted by: Hiro Butani | March 29, 2011 at 03:24 PM
@alamodefender, you said (March 29, 2011 at 02:39 PM)
__________
when running against alan keyes for the illinois senate,keyes said to obama,"you're not even a u.s. citizen."to which obama replied,"but i'm not running for the presidency."
__________
Googling for Obama and that alleged phrase returns precisely one result: your own forum post. You should provide references if you want any credibility.
Posted by: GetReal | March 29, 2011 at 03:25 PM