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Obama Releases "Birth Video," Mocks Trump At White House Correspondents' Dinner

Tracy Bloom |
May 1, 2011 | 8:54 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

President Obama wasted no time signaling out and lampooning Donald Trump and his birther conspiracy theory at Saturday's night annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C.

"My fellow Americans...," Obama began slowly, to a round of cheers and applause from the crowd, a mix of politicians, celebrities and journalists. A copy of the president's official long-form birth certificate--which Trump took credit for when the president released it last week--was also shown on the screen prior to Obama's speech, with the song "Real American," playing in the background for good measure.

Poking fun at the birther movement, Obama said he was releasing his "birth video," that night to put all questions about where he was born to rest. "Now, I warn you," he told the crowd before the video played, "no one has seen this in 50 years." 

The video, far from being of the president's birth, was a clip from "The Lion King."

“I want to make clear to the Fox News table: That was a joke,” Obama said once the clip was finished. “That was not my real birth video. That was a children’s cartoon. Call Disney if you don't believe me. They have the original long-form version.”

But Trump and his birtherism was far from Obama's only target last night, as he made fun of everyone from the field of possible 2012 Republican presidential candidates, to Matt Damon, to First Lady Michele Obama and Vice President Joe Biden.

Here's a sampling of some of the president's remarks from the dinner last night.

On Donald Trump:

  • “I know that he’s taken some flak lately, but no one is happier, no one is prouder to put this birth certificate matter to rest than The Donald. And that’s because he can finally get back to focusing on the issues that matter – like, did we fake the moon landing? What really happened in Roswell? And where are Biggie and Tupac?
  • “Just recently, in an episode of ‘Celebrity Apprentice’ at the steakhouse, the men’s cooking team cooking did not impress the judges from Omaha Steaks. And there was a lot of blame to go around. But you, Mr. Trump, recognized that the real problem was a lack of leadership. And so ultimately, you didn’t blame Lil Jon or Meatloaf. You fired Gary Busey. And these are the kind of decisions that would keep me up at night. Well handled, sir. Well handled."

On House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan Paul:

  • "Paul Ryan couldn't be here tonight. His budget has no room for laughing."

On the possible GOP field of 2012 presidential candidates:

  • "Michele Bachmann...is thinking about running for president, which is weird because I hear she was born in Canada. Yes, Michele, this is how it starts."
  • "Tim Pawlenty. He seems all-American, but have you ever heard his real middle name: Tim "Hosni" Pawlenty? What a shame."
  • "There's a vicious rumor floating around that could really hurt Mitt Romney. I hear he passed universal health care when he was governor of Massachusetts. Someone should get to the bottom of that. And I know just the guy to do it. Donald Trump."

Trump, a possible 2012 GOP presidential contender, attended the dinner as a guest of The Washington Post

Here's the full video of President Obama's speech:



 

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