With just 10 words on Friday morning, Donald Trump aimed to reverse his long-held position on President Obama's birthplace after years of skepticism and questioning.
"President Barack Obama was born in the United States. Period," he told reporters today -- just a day after he again refused to acknowledge the fact to the Washington Post.
But for years, Trump had helped perpetuate conspiracy theories about whether Obama was born in Hawaii, as his public birth certificate says, keeping the issue in the spotlight for years of his presidency.
In fact, Trump continued to stoke the fires for years after Obama released his long-form birth certificate in April 2011.
Trump also accused Hillary Clinton of starting the birther movement. But Politifact rated that claim "false" in 2015, saying that a Clinton volunteer may have been behind the rumor.
"There is no record that Clinton herself or anyone within her campaign ever advanced the charge that Obama was not born in the United States," the organization wrote. Clinton later called the idea "ludicrous."
But Trump never gave up on the idea publicly, even after he stopped talking about it openly, deflecting questions instead.
He called for hackers to attempt to reveal Obama's college admission files to check where he was born. He even offered Obama a $5 million donation to a charity of his choice to release the records. Trump speculated, without evidence, it was possible Obama was born in the U.S. but wrote Kenya on the form to get more financial aid.
Trump also retweeted a tweet calling Obama's birth certificate a "computer generated forgery" and coaching 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney to ask Obama about it in the debates.
Here are 67 times that Donald Trump tweeted about or retweeted comments about the birther movement:
Just remember, the birther movement was started by Hillary Clinton in 2008. She was all in!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2015
"@WSCP1: Obama records still a mystery - TheDonald: MSM Investigation Into Scott Walker’s College A ‘Double Standard’ http://t.co/ILuzMMpY5m
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2015
"@futureicon: @pinksugar61 Obama also fabricated his own birth certificate after being pressured to produce one by @realDonaldTrump"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 23, 2014
Attention all hackers: You are hacking everything else so please hack Obama's college records (destroyed?) and check "place of birth"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 6, 2014
Always remember, I was the one who got Obama to release his birth certificate, or whatever that was! Hilary couldn't, McCain couldn't.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2014
"@Boycottmaypac: @realDonaldTrump He got the president to show his Birth Certificate! He has clout my friend! He can really stir things up!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 4, 2014
"@johnnyb23390: @realDonaldTrump - the only confidentiality agreement he signed was for his real birth certificate. keep up the great work!"
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 15, 2014
Pres. Obama is about to embark on a 17 day vacation in his ‘native’ Hawaii, putting Secret Service away from families on Christmas. Aloha!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 19, 2013
How amazing, the State Health Director who verified copies of Obama’s “birth certificate” died in plane crash today. All others lived
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2013
“If you like your healthcare plan you can keep it.” = “I was born in Hawaii.”
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2013
"@obamafraudulent: @realDonaldTrump @d18mt2 The birth certificate that you forced Obama to show is a computer generated forgery.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2013
People should be proud of the fact that I got Obama to release his birth certificate, which in a recent book he “miraculously” found.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2013
@jonkarl interviews me on This Week during which time he stated that he was "pretty sure" President Obama was born in the U.S. Bad question!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2013
"@davidrhythmguit: @realDonaldTrump @Chuffman48 Mark Cuban accepts the fact that the President of the United States was born here." Doubt it
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2013
"@artlab: @realDonaldTrump Still waiting for the apology on the birth certificate thing. You must be kidding joker!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 7, 2013
"@CTrain_: @realDonaldTrump Honestly who gives a shit where Obama was born? It's where he lives now that's the problem" Interesting!!!!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2013
“TRUMP HITS BACK AT CHRIS MATTHEWS’ BIRTHER RANT: ‘HE USED TO BE A MUCH MORE INTELLIGENT MAN’" http://t.co/bBlm1jymlr @MadeleineBlaze
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2013
Via @Newsmax_Media: Maher Being Sued by Trump Over Birth Certificate Bet on 'Tonight Show' http://t.co/6a1rJoUz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 6, 2013
Via @FoxNews: "Donald Trump sends Bill Maher birth certificate, awaits $5 million" http://t.co/5c38hlwz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 10, 2013
@mcuban ---- Do you mean the President's birthplace?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2012
Everybody knows why Obama would not show his college applications --- they are just not willing to say!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 2, 2012
Dave Letterman @Late_Show said during my interview that Obama was "probably" born in the US--the word "probably" is a disaster for Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 29, 2012
A lot changed when David Letterman said " he was probably born in this country"--- the word probably is a total disaster for Obama.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 28, 2012
"Trump Offers To Donate $5 Million To Charity If Obama Releases College Transcripts" http://t.co/8l3BpZf6 via @rcpvideo
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2012
"TRUMP’S BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: HE’LL GIVE $5 MILLION TO CHARITY OF OBAMA’S CHOICE IF..." http://t.co/nnRuiikv By @billyhallowell @theblaze
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2012
"Donald Trump Announcement: $5 Million for Obama College Records" http://t.co/6u4mLrTs via @Newsmax_Media
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2012
"Trump offers $5 million for Obama college, passport records" http://t.co/9BnNCX4v By @AlexPappasDC @DailyCaller
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2012
RT @APCampaign:Trump to Obama: $5 million donation to charity if you release passport and college records http://t.co/Cn8bn9LH #Election2012
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 24, 2012
If Obama goes after Mitt's private sector experience in the next debate then Mitt should ask for Obama's college records--all of them.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 17, 2012
.@MittRomney--if Obama gets wise tonight just ask for his college records & transcripts--he will quiet down quickly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2012
Obama is planning on attacking Romney on Bain in tomorrow's debate http://t.co/3F5Sqe6A Mitt should bring up college applications & records
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2012
Isn't it time that Obama release his college records and applications? Boy would that create a mess! He is not who you think.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 15, 2012
If Obama mentions Mitt's tax returns in tomorrow's debate then Mitt should immediately ask for Obama's college records & applications
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 2, 2012
In debate, @MittRomney should ask Obama why autobiography states "born in Kenya, raised in Indonesia."
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 1, 2012
.@MittRomney must ask for Obama's college records & applications--why is he not doing this?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 27, 2012
Why did @MittRomney give his tax returns without demanding that Obama release his college records & applications in return?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2012
Wake Up America! See article: "Israeli Science: Obama Birth Certificate is a Fake" http://t.co/f7esUdSz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 13, 2012
Why won't Obama release his college applications? Is there something 'foreign' about them?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 11, 2012
Obama is taunting the Republicans on the birther issue. They should call his bluff & demand the REAL facts. He (cont) http://t.co/NWmVp06e
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2012
Media silent when @BarackObama called @MittRomney a murderer & felon. Mitt mentions 'birth certificate' and they go nuts. Double standard!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2012
If the Democrats want to attack 'Birthers' then they should at least spell it correctly http://t.co/ftJUHg7r
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 28, 2012
.@Reince Priebus is doing a great job--fantastic guy. But no more birther apologies.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
Via @washtimes: "@EmilyMiller Exclusive: @realDonaldTrump on @MittRomney's birther comment" http://t.co/te1mWy57
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
.@BarackObama is petrified of the birther issue so they go on the offensive to try & make the Republicans feel (cont) http://t.co/HVvlnsvh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
Why do the Republicans keep apologizing on the so called "birther" issue? No more apologies--take the offensive!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 27, 2012
An 'extremely credible source' has called my office and told me that @BarackObama's birth certificate is a fraud.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 6, 2012
In '08, @BarackObama hit Bush for secrecy http://t.co/aiwwi3Q9 When will Obama release all his sealed college records?!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2012
Jay Carney won't answer reporters questions of "Why Obama won't release his college transcripts"- Come on, Jay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 23, 2012
With @BarackObama listing himself as "Born in Kenya" in 1999http://bit.ly/JaHQW0 HI laws allowed him to produce a fake certificate. #SCAM
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 20, 2012
Via @BreitbartFeed--why doesn't @BarackObama release his original book proposal which says he was born in Kenya?http://t.co/pDDHJcjH
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2012
Why does HI Revised Statute 338-17.8 allow an HI resident who doesn't have to be US citizen to procure an official Hawaii birth certificate?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012
Congratulations to @RealSheriffJoe on his successful Cold Case Posse investigation which claims @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' is fake
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012
Weird--why did BarackObama Sr. fail to list @BarackObama as his son in his 1961 INS application? http://t.co/OKBJCRzs
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 18, 2012
I wonder what the answer is on @BarackObama's college application to the question: place of birth? Maybe the (cont) http://t.co/E8q0xakY
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 17, 2012
A true honor. @PressSec considers asking for @BarackObama's college transcripts a "Donald Trump question." http://t.co/fdRoq2V5 Release it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 13, 2012
President Obama wants @MittRomney to hand over even more past tax returns- he should when @BarackObama reveals his college applications.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 10, 2012
Tomorrow we celebrate Independence Day, America's 236th birthday. Here is America's actual birth certificate http://t.co/0Dnwgi5p
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 3, 2012
I want to see @BarackObama's college records to see how he listed his place of birth in the application.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
So @ReutersPolitics claims that @MittRomney's birth certificate evokes 'controversy' http://t.co/OMpv8F10 Where (cont) http://t.co/b85y89lz
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
My @CNN interview with @wolfblitzercnn where I discuss @BarackObama's 'birth certificate' and why @CNN has low ratings http://t.co/PQwR5XUh
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2012
.@BarackObama is practically begging @MittRomney to disavow the place of birth movement, he is afraid of it and (cont) http://t.co/eHvjlV0S
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 29, 2012
Let's take a closer look at that birth certificate. @BarackObama was described in 2003 as being "born in Kenya." http://t.co/vfqJesJL
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2012
Sure--@BarackObama's literary agent claims the 1991 booklet was a 'mistake' http://t.co/7Es4VubI Pretty convenient.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 18, 2012
When will @BarackObama release his college and law school transcripts?http://t.co/Mzg1l6qo
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2012
Made in America? @BarackObama argues that his long form birth certificate is irrelevant in court.http://bit.ly/HNTQaT
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 24, 2012
Made in America? @BarackObama called his 'birthplace' Hawaii "here in Asia." http://t.co/dQka2PIr
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 18, 2011
My @FoxNews interview last night with @Gretawire http://t.co/P9OPYzBf
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 26, 2011