Obama Trolls Trump: ‘I Was Able to Get Away With’ Not Being Born in the US
Former President makes joke of 'birther' controversy
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Former President Barack Obama trolled President Donald Trump during an appearance on far-left “The Daily Show,” where he joked about the “birther” issue.
The “birther controversy" was born after Hillary Clinton and her campaign circulated a memo promoting Barack Obama’s “lack of American roots” in 2007.
The memo read:
“[Barack Obama’s] roots to American values and culture are at best limited."
“I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center, fundamentally American in his thinking and values.”
Obama, who claimed he was born in Hawaii, faced growing suspicion from Americans, and even more so when he refused to release his birth certificate.
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Obama could have quelled suspicions if he proved he was born in America and therefore eligible to be US president.
Hillary Clinton used the birther issue as ammunition to attack the then-candidate Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, which famously backfired on her.
Trump also questioned Obama's past living as Barry Soetoro, the name he used while he lived in Indonesia as a child.
“When I was 18, people called me Donald Trump," Trump tweeted.
"When he was 18, Barack Obama was Barry Soweto (sic). Weird.”
When I was 18, people called me Donald Trump. When he was 18, @BarackObama was Barry Soweto. Weird.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 12, 2012
Obama joked he was “able to get away with” not being born in the US.
“I should roast people I admire more."
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"I’ll start roasting you, man,” Obama said to Trevor Noah, who was born in South Africa.
“Although you weren’t born here,” Obama said.
“But, look, I was able to get away with it, apparently,” he added.
WATCH:
In 2018, Michelle Obama blasted Trump for 'spreading rumors' that her husband was not born in America.
According to excerpts from the former first lady's book, she says she cannot forgive Trump for suggesting Barack Obama's birth certificate was a fake.
