Trump: “It’s a Very Strange President We Have”

 


 

By Jim Meyers and Ashley Martella, Newsmax, Wednesday, April 27, 2011 3:11 p.m.

In the immediate aftermath of the White House’s release of President Obama’s birth certificate, billionaire Donald Trump came out with guns blazing in an exclusive interview with Newsmax.TV.

Trump described President Obama as a “very strange president” for not releasing his birth certificate promptly, as well as other personal records still being withheld.

He also lambasted the president for his foreign and economic policies that have made him a “laughingstock.”

During his interview via phone from New Hampshire, Trump again reiterated comments made earlier in the day that he was “proud and honored” that he was able to accomplish “what nobody else could” — convince President Barack Obama to finally release his long-form birth certificate.

The hit TV star and real estate mogul — who is considering a run for president in 2012 — also derided the president for allowing OPEC’s “ripping off” of America, and charged that the administration’s moratorium on oil drilling is a “total disaster.”

For weeks Trump has been calling on Obama to put the issue of his birthplace to rest by simply presenting his full birth certificate. The issue has haunted Obama since his 2008 presidential campaign.

The White House finally obliged on Wednesday morning, with Obama apparently alluding to Trump when he complained during a press conference about “side shows and carnival barkers.”

Trump told Newsmax.TV: “I’m very proud of the fact that I was able to do something that nobody else could. I’m really honored by it.

“Whether it was Clinton or all of the other people running against him, for whatever reason, he wasn’t doing it, and I was able to get him to release.

“I don’t know why he didn’t do it. Nobody understands why he didn’t do this years ago. He went through hell over it.

“Obviously they’re examining the certificate very carefully.

“But I’m very very proud that I was able to accomplish what nobody else could, and the fact is it shows I can get things done. He can’t and I can.”

But Trump complains that Obama has still not released his college records. “He’s certainly not a transparent president because everybody thought he was going to release his records. It’s a very strange president that we have.”

Trump was asked how he would handle soaring gasoline prices if he was president.

“The first thing I’d do is get calls into OPEC and say, you fellows get over to my office right now,” Trump tells Newsmax.

“OPEC is ripping us off like nobody has ripped us off before. Saudi Arabia three days ago decided to raise the price of fuel by cutting down on supply. They look at us like we’re a bunch of jerks. They look at our leaders like they’re not very smart. Obviously the leaders aren’t very smart.

“I know two days ago the president said he has very little control over oil prices. I disagree, because he should be able to totally control OPEC. They wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for us.”

Also on the energy issue, Trump declares: “Obama’s moratorium on drilling has been a total disaster. How could this guy have people not being able to travel, not being able to fill up their tanks with gasoline, and he’s got a moratorium on drilling? We should drill in Alaska, and we should drill all over until we don’t need foreign oil. We should use natural gas and clean coal. We should use everything in our power.”

Noting that the prices of food and clothing have also been rising, Trump says “part of that is because the dollar is so weak. He’s allowed the dollar to fail.

“He likes it because short term it’s a little bit good for the country in terms of trade. But long term, it’s a disaster. He’s allowed the dollar to go so low that it is becoming a laughingstock, just like him.”

Trump also took aim at the major media and their coverage of Obama. He said: “The press has been so protective of Obama. It’s a joke, a laughing joke. I’ve never seen anything like it. You say anything negative about Obama and they start screaming at you. It’s absolutely incredible.”