Television personality Barbara Walters had a message for her good friend Donald Trump following Wednesday’s dud of an announcement that he would give $5 million to the charity of Barack Obama’s choice if the president would release his passport and college applications.
It was hardly the “October Surprise” the New York billionaire real estate mogul had promised when he first announced last week that he had news about Obama that would transform the presidential election.
Trump has been one of the most outspoken leaders of the so-called “birther” movement that doesn’t believe that Obama was born in the U.S. and is eligible to be president.
The fact that the president released his birth certificate last year and that it was verified as valid by Hawaii’s Republican governor seems to matter little to the Republican Party activist and one-time wannabe presidential candidate himself.
Walters looked to set her friend straight as he’s become a national joke.
“You and I have known each other for many years — and you know that I am your friend, and I think you are a brilliant businessman, and you are great on television, and you have a fascinating personality,” she said directly to the camera on “The View” Thursday. “Donald, you’re making a fool of yourself. You’re not hurting Obama. You’re hurting Donald, and that hurts me because you’re a decent man. Stop it. Get off it, Donald.”
President Obama himself mocked “The Donald” during an appearance on “The Tonight Show” the night before.
The ladies of “The View” equally scoffed at Trump’s reluctance to put the matter to rest.
“Celebrity Apprentice on again?” Joy Behar asked. “That must be why.”
“It’s crazy because, you know, you would think if he wants a passport, that the birth certificate that he’s been showing endlessly, the information would probably be the same,” Whoopi Goldberg added. “And it just doesn’t make sense.”
“It is the “birther thing,” she added. “But it’s like, get over it.”
Sherri Shepherd argued that Obama’s initial release of his birth certificate “opened the door to make him think he can do anything.” Trump said releasing the college records will end the question, she said. “Didn’t you say that about the birth certificate? So your stuff is never-ending.”
The ladies then went on to note Obama’s reaction to it – which was a well-played Kenya joke – and agreed that Obama won that round.
