Donald Trump Birth Certificate Released Following Misstep

Donald Trump released his official birth certificate to ABC News on Tuesday, the network reports.

The document, issued by the New York City Department of Health, surfaces one day after Trump provided what was described as his official birth certificate to Newsmax. That document, however, turned out to be a "certificate of live birth," likely given to his family by the New York hospital where he was born, not his actual "birth certificate."

An image of the document released by Trump on Tuesday and posted on the ABC News website indicates the potential presidential candidate was born at the Jamaica Hospital in New York on June 14, 1946. The same information was featured on the form relayed by Newsmax one day earlier.

While the difference between the documents may seem trivial to some and simply a matter of technicalities, a Trump staffer explained in an e-mail to ABC News that there is a clear distinction between the two. Michael Falcone reports:

"A 'birth certificate' and a 'certificate of live birth' are in no way the same thing, even though in some cases they use some of the same words," wrote Trump staffer Thuy Colayco in a message to ABC News. "One officially confirms and records a newborn child's identity and details of his or her birth, while the other only confirms that someone reported the birth of a child. Also, a 'certificate of live birth' is very easy to get because the standards are much lower, while a 'birth certificate' is only gotten through a long and detailed process wherein identity must be proved beyond any doubt. If you had only a certificate of live birth, you would not be able to get a proper passport from the Post Office or a driver's license from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Therefore, there is very significant difference between a 'certificate of live birth' and a 'birth certificate' and one should never be confused with the other."

In releasing his birth records to Newsmax on Monday, Trump called on President Barack Obama to do the same. The billionaire and potential presidential candidate has sparked controversy in recent weeks by questioning whether the president was born in the United States.

"It took me one hour to get my birth certificate," Trump said of what now appears to be his "certificate of live birth." "It's inconceivable that, after four years of questioning, the president still hasn't produced his birth certificate. I'm just asking President Obama to show the public his birth certificate. Why's he making an issue out of this?"

Politico's Ben Smith noted on Monday:

As I wrote earlier, an official copy of Obama's birth certificate -- the same thing Trump would have to prove his own birth -- has been available and online for more than three years.

Trump questioned whether the president was born in the United States during a phone interview on "Fox and Friends" earlier this week. "He could have been born outside of this country," he said before asking, "Why can't he produce a birth certificate?"

Trump said during the segment that the issue of the president's birthplace has him "really concerned."

Comments

[Prince Blake]

06:26 PM on 04/28/2011

The real story of this isn't really about President Obama or Donald Trump. It's about every one of us born in the USA. Asia is on the verge of a boom in nuclear energy...but can the US provide the necessary leadership in international circles to prevent another FUKUSHIMA disaster? Not if things are business as usual and people are intimidated to raise red flags on issues of safety and standards. For years the experts have been pushing for greater standards in the industry but only Korea had the sense to draw an inundation map and not build plants in those areas. We are the lucky ones born into a country that other couintry's look to not only for leadership - but for LENIENCY..as in the case of Japan's JMOX program. We must have standards not just others but for ourselves. The best way to lead is by example and being forthright in all matters including one's place of birth, is a starting point.

[Boopsie2008]

04:17 PM on 04/23/2011

Ronald McDonald, er, ah, Donald tRump needs to choke up the official pink and blue "certification of birth" issued by New York City, complete with the raised engraving on the seals in the bottom corners. Until he does, his own credibility is nil.

[bengit]

10:23 PM on 04/22/2011

It doesn't matter if Mr Obama produced a million birth certificates, long form, shortform, or what have you, Donald will still cast doubts, This is his Platform, and he is fooling a few people that the birth certificate thing is an issue, though indeed its a non issue. Most of the people who are backing trump and applauding what he is saying, are racist, yes its true they are. This is the conversation we are all avoiding, simply because we know its true. Senator Mccain was born to American parents in Panama, yet, and quite rightly so, no one questions his Citizenship. President Obama was born in Hawaii to An American mother and an African Father,that makes him an American citizen. However the doubters are only interested on those words, AFRICAN FATHER. by right of birth place and his mother's parentage that makes him an American. GET IT? good! now drop it..... Donald you should be ashamed of your self. I once thought you were man of decency and integrity, but you have sunk to your lowest ebb. Good luck trying to climb out. I am afraid it is over for you. I will no longer watch NBC, they should have cancelled out your show, the moment you started with this nonsense and disrespecting our President and the office. Truly donald how can any one take you seriously? your credibility is now zero.

[Lori Boyette]

02:05 PM on 04/22/2011

Donald Trump, You're FIRED! I have 2 birth records from different states sent to me by the state's vital statistics. California and Idaho reads, "Certificate of Live Birth." So Donald, it appears the while in New York there may be a difference in the two, in other states, we call our birth certificates "Certificates of Live Birth." Better fire your research guys while you're at it.

[Boopsie2008]

04:28 PM on 04/23/2011

Well, he's demanding a birth certificate that shows what hospital President Obama was born in. Hawaii doesn't include that.

Here's the real dirty secret: New York doesn't include that, either. Were Donald to finally show us the official pink and blue engraved "Certification of Birth" issued by New York City with its five embedded security features AND a bar code on it, we'd find that New York doesn't put the hospital where the person was born on its official birth certificates either. So all his bluster about how an official certificate of birth has to show the hospital where the person was born is all just a bunch of hooey. He knows full well that he can't even show this for himself. The thing he showed during his ABC interview was evidently a screen shot of some microfiche records, not the real, physical, hand-it-to-me-now birth certificate.

His non-stop flaming of this issue is a huge lie because he knows he can't produce such a document himself. It is also deliberately and offensively playing to racists, and that is the real takeaway here.

[sedwin]

04:52 PM on 04/19/2011

It's unbelievable that so many people don't realize that Obama has released his Birth Certificate. It is the official document of the State of Hawaii. Unfortunately, too many people in this nation actually believe that FOX and Clear Channel Radio are actually real News Corporations despite the fact that they have continuously been shown to been presenting falsehoods as truth. If you want to spend time questioning birth certificates then why don't you all ask for the birth certificates from corporations? After all the politicians and Supreme court claim they are citizens. Further, supposedly the Supreme Court has now ruled at least twice that the corporations are citizens WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DOES NOT have the legal ability under the constitution to pass or create law. That is the sole responsibility of the Congress and under exceptional circumstances the President but NEVER the Supreme Court. So the Corporations having the rights of citizens is wholly unconstitutional. Hey GE, EXXON, FOX, Clear Channel show me YOUR birth certificate!

[Robert J Vanderbei]

08:41 PM on 04/17/2011

Sad to say racism is alive and well in the US of A.

[inkjet]

08:50 PM on 04/11/2011

look i too really gave zero thought to the whole birth certificate issue, how-ever, it is odd why anyone would spend that kind of money regardless of how wealthy they are unless there was something on it that you did not want anyone to see or you just did not have one. remember it was the clinton camp that stumbled upon this issue not the republicans. makes one wonder why she stayed in a race that was mathmatically impossible to win. what did she mean when she was quoted as saying you never know what will surface or happen? now if she would of came out like trump has the media would of jumped all over her calling her a racist, an unpresidential candidate, cheat, or whatever else they could come up with and her camp knew this. don't think for one nano second that the powers to be could not alter or fake a certificate, especially if it means becoming the most powerful person in the world. if obama has it then just show it and move on....if not...there are a lot of independent people like myself who voted for him last time that are starting to have real doubts...and when in doubt people will vote him out....not good....

[trogwolf]

04:23 AM on 04/09/2011

"A 'birth certificate' and a 'certificate of live birth' are in no way the same thing, even though in some cases they use some of the same words," wrote Trump staffer Thuy Colayco ... "One officially confirms and records a newborn child's identity and details of his or her birth, while the other only confirms that someone reported the birth of a child. A 'certificate of live birth' is very easy to get because the standards are much lower, while a 'birth certificate' is only gotten through a long and detailed process wherein identity must be proved beyond any doubt. If you had only a certificate of live birth, you would not be able to get a proper passport from the Post Office or a driver's license from the DMV. Therefore, there is very significant difference between a 'certificate of live birth' and a 'birth certificate' and one should never be confused with the other."

The absurdity of these statements go beyond the ridiculous. As Trump's own certified copy of his birth certificate shows, the title in many if not most states is Certificate of (Live) Birth. I don't have my 1961 original. I have one just like Trump's. It is a certified copy of the original, which is how Anchorage, Alaska did things in 1982. I obtained my Driver's License and Passport with it. If I run for office it has all the legal authority of the original to certify that I was born in te US.

[worldtrav]

08:12 PM on 04/03/2011

You go Birthers! Spend all your time and money obsessing about how the Republican senate failed to properly vet the President. Chase the GOP into a corner in which the difference between Certificates of Birth and Birth Certificates is the solitary fixation of the collective agenda.

You go.

[hoho5973]

04:01 PM on 04/03/2011

I hope he runs, if nothing more than for the fact that it will put the other candidates on the spot regarding major issues. What are they going to do while China continues to shaft us with manipulation of their currency? What are they going to do regarding the long term plan in Afghanistan and Iraq? What are they going to do about rising gas prices? What are they going to do about Iran? I saw the interview with Bill O'Reilly the other night, and Donald did say some pretty brash stuff, but at least he was honest about what he would do. Quite a nice change to the typical "pandering to what is popular" that our current administration does, don't ya think?

[writeon1]

01:10 PM on 04/01/2011

Wow! I mean, how much PR does one really need for a reality show? It's sad to think that this stuff is actually news.

[rowdiman]

07:58 PM on 03/31/2011

I'm still disgusted taxpayers had to help foot the bill for his multiple bankruptcies.

Why does anyone even bother to argue this with the haters anymore? It's not about Obama's birth certificate; it's about de-legitimizing his Presidency.

Now, if the media would just call them out on it and quit covering their "rallies". Where the heck is their coverage of the union busting protests??????

[Paulie21]

09:36 AM on 03/31/2011

What a tucking tool he is!

[New Yorker in Tampa]

09:29 PM on 03/30/2011

Classic! Trump is just trying to figure out how to get his ratings up to catch up to Kim Kardashian, Jrsey Shore & of course, Winning!, Charlie what's his name.........

[Oonagh]

07:55 PM on 03/30/2011

The only glitch is Trump himself.... He is like Palin....overbearing .. Much better in small doses.

[Paulie21]

09:36 AM on 03/31/2011

small dik

[RiffRaffAmI]

12:55 PM on 03/31/2011

I KNEW IT! lol.