Trump’s Hawaii Investigation
Magnate tells “Today” he has people in the Aloha State conducting on-the-ground research into the president’s birthplace.
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
So, is the time right now for you?
DONALD TRUMP:
Well, the time certainly is right. We’re a laughing stock as a country throughout the world. We’re being taken advantage of by other countries
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MEREDITH VIEIRA:
If you were President, would keep a military presence in Iraq indefinitely.
DONALD TRUMP:
Let me just say something. There’s nobody more militaristic than me, but it’s also called attack the right target. Iran is going to take over Iraq, because we have de-neutered Iraq, you know that, in terms of their military. They’re gonna take them over very quickly as soon as we leave. If that’s gonna happen, they’re gonna take over the oil fields. The second biggest oil fields in the world. And if that’s gonna happen, I say we take over the oil fields…I would take over the oil fields, because otherwise, Iran is gonna take over the second biggest oil fields in the world. I would absolutely, without question, not leave that section of that country. I would take the oil. To the victor belong the spoils. You know, in the old days, you’d have a war. And you’d be in there. And you’d win. And you’d take over the country. Whether it’s oil or gold or whatever. You take over the country.
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
Okay. Are you saying if you were President, you would take us out of Afghanistan?
DONALD TRUMP:
Well, nothing’s simple. Because I don’t believe in foot soldiers. They get blown up on streets. But I do believe in airplanes that are 50,000 feet up. And when we see through intelligence what’s going on, knock the hell out. Oh, by the way, I’m much more militaristic than Obama. He got the Nobel Peace Prize, but, you know, I think they’re probably rethinking that one, every time he seizes a country. The problem is he seizes countries, but he doesn’t win….I’m not gonna have soldiers walking down on the street and get blown up and get shot at by snipers and killed, so we have to call the parents and say, "Your son was just killed on a street in Afghanistan." But those people will have a lot more problems with me than they’re having right now. But I do it through the air and we’re not gonna have casualties.
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MEREDITH VIEIRA:
Do you think given all the issues that this country is facing that this is something that resonates with the public? That they care about this?
DONALD TRUMP:
The Constitution of the United States…great document. And you agree with it?
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
Yeah, sure.
DONALD TRUMP:
It says you have to be born in this country. Essential. Have to be born in this country, okay? If he wasn’t born in this country, he has conned the whole world.
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
But you’re saying it’s a con. That’s what you’re saying.
DONALD TRUMP:
I’m not saying anything. I’m saying--
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
Sure you are.
DONALD TRUMP:
I am saying I want to see the birth certificate. It’s very simple. I want to see the birth certificate. How come his own family doesn’t know which hospital he was born in? How come-- forget about birth certificates. Let’s say there’s no birth certificate. How come in the hospital itself, okay? This is one of the…in the hospital itself, there’s no records of his birth. In other words, it doesn’t say how much they paid, where is the doctor, here’s your room bill. You know, all the
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
You’ve been privy to all of this to know this?
DONALD TRUMP:
Well, I have people that actually have been studying it and they cannot believe what they’re talking.
MEREDITH VIEIRA:
You have people now out there searching-- I mean, in Hawaii?
DONALD TRUMP:
Absolutely. And they cannot believe what they’re finding. And I’m serious--
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MEREDITH VIERA:
You criticized Obama quite a bit in this interview and in the past. What do you think he has done well?
DONALD TRUMP:
I think the thing that he did best of all, is get elected. Get elected. He ran an unbelievable campaign although, in the end, Hillary was beating him in every state. It was pretty-- I mean, by the end, I think people were maybe getting wise. And, you have to understand, I want Obama to do well. I don't dislike him. I never met him….
If I had my choice of having Obama do great as a president, and do a really great job for this country, and not running, as opposed to running - I'd prefer that he did a great job. I love this country. But, this country is going to hell.
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MEREDITH VIERA:
Among those potential Republican candidates, can you point to any of them and say, "That person would be a fine president"?
DONALD TRUMP:
Well, you know, it's funny. They've all treated me so nicely. They've been so great… I'm not gonna go on any individual, but I will tell you I understand them. I know many of them…
I know this. I will be better than anybody. I will do the best job. If I decide to run, I will do the best job. I will be best for this country. And, you may say, "Oh, gee, that doesn't sound like George Washington." Well, guess what? Before George Washington ran, he didn't sound like George Washington either. I will be and do a great job, if I run and if I win.