Donald Trump joins the birthers: Property tycoon suggests Obama's not really American



Donald Trump has joined the chorus of so-called 'birthers' questioning the citizenship of President Obama.

The property tycoon says he doubts that Obama was born in the U.S. because he never produces anyone from his early childhood to prove it.

In an ABC interview on board his private jet, Mr Trump said: 'He grew up and nobody knew him. You know? When you interview people, if ever I got the nomination, if I ever decide to run, you may go back and interview people from my kindergarten. They'll remember me.

Doubting: Donald Trump questions whether President Obama really is American during an interview on his private jet

'Nobody ever comes forward. Nobody knows who he his until later in his life. It's very strange. The whole thing is very strange.'

He also criticises those who attack the birther movement.

'Everybody that even gives a hint of being a birther ... even a little bit of a hint, like, gee, you know, maybe, just maybe this much of a chance, they label them as an idiot,' he said.

'Let me tell you, I'm a really smart guy.'

The birther movement argue that Mr Obama is not a natural born citizen of the U.S. and is therefore not eligible to be President of the United States under Article Two of the United States Constitution.



Some of the conspiracy theories claim that Obama was born in Kenya, others suggest that Obama is a citizen of Indonesia.



Mr Trump added that he is willing to spend $600million of his fortune to run for the U.S. presidency.

But the billionaire said his name is so well known by the public that he will save millions on advertising if he decides to challenge Mr Obama in the 2012 election.

Mr Trump, who is worth over $2.7billion, said he is considering seeking the Republican party nomination - and financing his election campaign would not be a problem.

President Obama raised $750million during his successful election campaign, with most of the cash going on TV advertising.

Under fire: President Obama 'missed a chance' to topple Gaddafi, Trump claims



Asked if he had $600million to spare, Mr Trump said: 'Much more than that. That's one of the nice things.

'I mean, part of the beauty of me is that I'm very rich. So if I need $600million, I could put up $600 million myself. That's a huge advantage."

Mr Trump, who presents the reality show Celebrity Apprentice, said he will make a final decision about running for President in June.

He dismissed speculation that his presidential bid was just for publicity.

'I have never been so serious as I am now,' he told the Good Morning America TV show.

As for the Libyan crisis, Mr Trump was forthright about leader Moammar Gaddafi's brutal use of force against civilians and rebels in Libya, saying he would be for a 'surgical strike' on Gadhafi.

Mr Trump said: 'If we could surgically strike and stop that from happening, I'd be for it, but not to get into a war,' adding that he believed the President had missed a chance to do just that.