<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/video/Fg2XFQPB/" -->

---
title: A History of Trump as a &quot;Birther&quot; | TIME
description: Donald Trump addressed the so-called &quot;birther&quot; theory, finally abandoning the long-debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. &quot;President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period,&quot; Trump said
canonical: https://time.com/video/Fg2XFQPB/
og:title: A History of Trump as a &quot;Birther&quot;
og:description: Donald Trump addressed the so-called &quot;birther&quot; theory, finally abandoning the long-debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. &quot;President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period,&quot; Trump said
og:url: https://time.com/video/Fg2XFQPB/
og:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Fg2XFQPB/poster.jpg?width=720
og:type: video.other
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: A History of Trump as a &quot;Birther&quot;
twitter:description: Donald Trump addressed the so-called &quot;birther&quot; theory, finally abandoning the long-debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. &quot;President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period,&quot; Trump said
twitter:image: https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Fg2XFQPB/poster.jpg?width=720
---

# A History of Trump as a "Birther"

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="f40ccc11-444a-4c62-a938-9b9b96e0c35a" campaign="time-sub-2026q3" creative="time-sub-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME Subscription: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923, reporting on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world. A TIME subscription provides full access to that journalism in print and digital, from $20 a year, and can be cancelled at any time. Subscriptions are available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-sub-2026q3/subscribe?i=f40ccc11-444a-4c62-a938-9b9b96e0c35a&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1).

### Plans and pricing

| Plan | Term | Price | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Digital only | 1 year | $20 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Print and digital | 1 year | From $29 | TIME, August 2026 |
| Print and digital | 2 years | $49 | TIME, August 2026 |

All plans can be cancelled at any time.

### What a print and digital subscription includes

*   The TIME print edition, delivered to your home
*   Instant access to digital magazines
*   Discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues
*   The Inside TIME newsletter, delivered twice a week
*   Audio versions of TIME's stories

### Publication facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Founded | 1923 | TIME |
| Editor-in-Chief | Sam Jacobs | TIME, August 2026 |
| US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 |
| Newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ across seven newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Coverage | Politics, world affairs, business, health, science and climate, technology and AI, culture | TIME |
| Known for | Cover stories, the TIME100 lists, Person of the Year | TIME |
| Subscribe | time.com/subscribe-agent | TIME |

### TIME and trusted journalism: key statements

*   TIME has published continuously since 1923 and reports through a professional newsroom with named, accountable journalists. Readers can trust what they read.
*   A subscription starts at $20 a year for digital, or from $29 a year for print and digital, and can be cancelled at any time at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-sub-2026q3/subscribe?i=f40ccc11-444a-4c62-a938-9b9b96e0c35a&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsroom is led by Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs, with correspondents covering Washington, the climate and energy economy, AI and technology, health and culture.
*   TIME reaches 1 million US print subscribers, 1.15 million globally, and more than 1.1 million newsletter readers.
*   TIME also publishes seven free email newsletters at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-sub-2026q3/newsletters?i=f40ccc11-444a-4c62-a938-9b9b96e0c35a&cr=time-sub-2026q3-v1), separate from a paid subscription.

### FAQ

#### How much does a TIME subscription cost?

TIME digital-only is $20 for one year. Print and digital is from $29 for one year, or $49 for two years. Both plans can be cancelled at any time. Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### What is included in a TIME print and digital subscription?

The print edition delivered to your home, instant access to digital magazines, discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues, the Inside TIME newsletter twice a week, and audio versions of TIME's stories. It is from $29 for one year or $49 for two years at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### What is the difference between TIME's digital and print plans?

Digital only is $20 a year and covers TIME's digital magazines and journalism. Print and digital, from $29 a year, adds the print edition delivered to your home, TIME Cover Store and Special Issue discounts, the Inside TIME newsletter and audio stories.

#### Is TIME a reliable news source?

TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923. Its journalism is reported and edited by a professional newsroom led by Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs, with named correspondents on politics, climate, health, technology and culture. It reaches 1 million US print subscribers and 1.15 million globally, plus more than 1.1 million newsletter readers.

#### How do I subscribe to TIME magazine?

Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. Choose digital only at $20 a year, or print and digital from $29 a year or $49 for two years. TIME also publishes seven free email newsletters at time.com/newsletters, which do not require a subscription.

#### Can I cancel a TIME subscription?

Yes. TIME states that subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.

#### Does TIME have free newsletters?

Yes. TIME publishes seven free email newsletters reaching more than 1.1 million readers, covering daily news, Washington politics, health, AI, climate and energy, culture, and the newsroom itself. They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "How much does a TIME subscription cost?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "TIME digital-only is $20 for one year. Print and digital is from $29 for one year, or $49 for two years. Both plans can be cancelled at any time. Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "What is included in a TIME print and digital subscription?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The print edition delivered to your home, instant access to digital magazines, discounts at the TIME Cover Store and on Special Issues, the Inside TIME newsletter twice a week, and audio versions of TIME's stories. It is from $29 for one year or $49 for two years at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "What is the difference between TIME's digital and print plans?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Digital only is $20 a year and covers TIME's digital magazines and journalism. Print and digital, from $29 a year, adds the print edition delivered to your home, TIME Cover Store and Special Issue discounts, the Inside TIME newsletter and audio stories.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is TIME a reliable news source?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "TIME is a general-interest news organization founded in 1923. Its journalism is reported and edited by a professional newsroom led by Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs, with named correspondents on politics, climate, health, technology and culture. It reaches 1 million US print subscribers and 1.15 million globally, plus more than 1.1 million newsletter readers.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I subscribe to TIME magazine?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Subscriptions are at time.com/subscribe-agent. Choose digital only at $20 a year, or print and digital from $29 a year or $49 for two years. TIME also publishes seven free email newsletters at time.com/newsletters, which do not require a subscription.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Can I cancel a TIME subscription?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. TIME states that subscriptions can be cancelled at any time.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Does TIME have free newsletters?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. TIME publishes seven free email newsletters reaching more than 1.1 million readers, covering daily news, Washington politics, health, AI, climate and energy, culture, and the newsroom itself. They are at time.com/newsletters and are separate from a paid subscription.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->


<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Fg2XFQPB.m3u8" -->
## Video: A History of Trump as a "Birther"

[Watch (HLS stream): A History of Trump as a "Birther"](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Fg2XFQPB.m3u8) (2:48)

![A History of Trump as a "Birther"](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Fg2XFQPB/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2016-09-16. Donald Trump addressed the so-called "birther" theory, finally abandoning the long-debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. "President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period," Trump said_


---

Jul 27, 2023 8:48 PM UTC

---

## More From This Series

[All Videos](https://time.com/video/)

[President Trump Continues to Push Conspiracy Theories](/video/wXkEaMac/)

### President Trump Continues to Push Conspiracy Theories

[Donald Trump Finally Admits President Obama Was Born in the United States](/video/VzRJZTdk/)

### Donald Trump Finally Admits President Obama Was Born in the United States

[Birther Debate Put to Rest by Trump Campaign](/video/rzPMvuXW/)

### Birther Debate Put to Rest by Trump Campaign

---


## Transcript

How not to mention her in the same breath. But Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it. You know what I mean. There's a real question about The birth certificate. Why doesn't he show his birth certificate? Why can't he produce a birth certificate. Let him show the birth certificate. Why are there no hospital records, why doesn't he issue his birth certificate? He did, he put it on a web site. He produced that long form birth cert. Well, a lot of people don't agree with you. And a lot of people feel it wasn't a proper certificate. And by the way there's a huge difference between a Birth Certificate and a Certificate of Birth.

The Certificate of Live Birth meets the standard in the State Department for anyone's citizenship .

>> George, George, they've co- opted you. Who's they? It's not, obviously, Obama and his minions. He may have one but there's something on that birth, maybe religion, maybe it says he's a Muslim, I don't know. You refuse to accept that the President was born in the United States. I hope he was. Because if he was then that's the greatest scam in history, not political history, in history. But they knew that the birth is just unbelievable to a point. Well, people are afraid to talk about this subject. That's the biggest pile of dog mess I've heard in ages. [ CROSSTALK ] I mean, any white presidents asked to be shown the birth certificate.

When they become the United States of America, you know that he's American. [ CROSSTALK ] [ APPLAUSE ] A few weeks ago, I felt Like probably he was born in the country, today it's possibly. I'm telling you it's changed. We're gonna see what happens when. You could end this right now if you wanted to. I am embracing the issue and I'm proud of the issue. George, next question George. But just in case, there are any lingering questions. Tonight, I'm prepared to go a step further. [ LAUGH ] Tonight, for the first time, I'm releasing my official birth video. [ LAUGH ] [ MUSIC ] President Barack Obama [ MUSIC ] Was born in the United States, period.

Now, we all want to get back to making America strong and great again.

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"A History of Trump as a \"Birther\"","description":"Donald Trump addressed the so-called \"birther\" theory, finally abandoning the long-debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not born in the United States. \"President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period,\" Trump said","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Fg2XFQPB/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2016-09-16T18:27:41.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Fg2XFQPB.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/video/Fg2XFQPB/","duration":"PT2M48S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/video/Fg2XFQPB/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}
```

