MARIA BARTIROMO (HOST): Mr. Trump, let me ask you about this birther issue. Your senior communication advisor Jason Miller addressed the birther comments, saying that you believe President Obama was in fact born in the United States. Now I remember when this all went on and you were very successful in making sure this issue was front and center. He said “Hillary Clinton's campaign first raised the issue to smear” --
DONALD TRUMP: True.
BARTIROMO: Your communications person said that “Hillary Clinton raised the issue first to then smear then-candidate Barack Obama in her very nasty failed 2008 campaign for president.” That you believe that President Obama was born in the United States right now. Can you clarify your stance on this?
TRUMP: Well I'm going to make a big announcement on it today, probably at my first speech at my new hotel. We're opening up as you know on Pennsylvania Avenue, the Old Post Office. And it's --you'll be happy to hear, on budget, exactly on budget, even a little under budget. And about a year and a half ahead of schedule. That's something you don't hear from government.
BARTIROMO: I just don't remember Hillary bringing it up. When did she bring it up? During the campaign?
TRUMP: Hillary brought it up during the campaign. It was 2008 and it was brought up to a fare thee well. And she brought it up. And I was the one that was successful in getting him to release his birth certificate. I'm going to have a big statement made today at the hotel. I'm speaking in front of Medal of Honor winners that endorsed me. I have many Medal of Honor winners who have endorsed me and will be endorsing me today which I'm very proud of. And I'm going to be making a major statement on this whole thing and what Hillary did. But no, she is one that started it and she was unable or incapable of finishing it. That's the way it worked out. But I got him to release his birth certificate.
BARTIROMO: I remember.
TRUMP: So we will have a big statement and I hope you are going to be watching.
BARTIROMO: I'm definitely going to be watching, but the bottom line is this: we know that Obama now, he was born in America, correct?
TRUMP: You watch my statement. We have to keep the suspense going. You my friends, you watch the statement. I think you'll be happy.
