Donald Trump Tells George Stephanopoulos He's Been 'Co-Opted' By Obama (VIDEO)

A rattled Donald Trump lashed out at George Stephanopoulos during a testy interview on Tuesday's "Good Morning America," accusing the ABC host of being "co-opted" by President Obama's "minions" due to his aggressive rebuttal of Trump's birther claims.

Trump has been on a fairly never-ending media tour since he announced that he was considering a run for the presidency, but Stephanopoulos was one of his toughest interviewers yet. He told Trump that "there is no question" about Obama's being a natural-born citizen of the U.S.

"I know exactly what you're getting at," Trump said. "The facts!" Stephanopoulos shot back. As he enumerated those facts, Trump cut in. "George, they've co-opted you," he said. "Who's they?" Stephanopoulos asked. "Well, obviously, Obama and his minions," Trump said.

Then, Stephanopoulos asked him what the investigators he had promised to send to Hawaii had turned up in their quest to uncover the murky secrets of Obama's past.

"That's none of your business right now," Trump said. "We are going to see what happens." He repeated this phrase three or four more times, before saying, "George, next question, George."

WATCH:

Comments

[dave kofh]

12:42 PM on 04/25/2011

The Donald "Trumps" the The Race Card!

[Keefe Lehman]

12:46 PM on 04/24/2011

I very much don't understand how thinking a black president should be forced to show more proof of birth, to the public no less, than any of the white presidents who came before him is not reported as bigotry.

[tvollmers]

01:23 PM on 04/22/2011

Someone help me understand this--Trump say's the birther issue is not a big part of his platform, however, it's all he seems to talk about. He wants attention for his policy perspectives, however, he is spending money to send some mysterious troupe of investigators to Hawaii to dig up facts that are already public. If he wants to be taken seriously, why doesn't he stick to serious issues? He has no right to complain about being questioned about any stance he's taken--especially one so controversial. If he really were a smart man, he would drop this birther nonsense and stay focused on the issues that need to be dealt with.

p.s. can't wait for someone to say it's the media's fault that the birther issue is all anyone thinks trump is concerned with...

[tvollmers]

01:01 PM on 04/22/2011

maybe trump, palin and charlie sheen can put on a show and tour. can you say dream team?

[tvollmers]

12:57 PM on 04/22/2011

seems like trump has been co-opted by the birthers and their minions.

[troyrobertdavid]

10:43 AM on 04/22/2011

Trump continues to lose his cool when pressed by reporters. If he can’t handle a simple interview with someone that disagrees with him how could he possible handle Congress, the Senate or foreign countries?

[SamShah33]

10:38 AM on 04/22/2011

i dont think its Trump - I think the Hair is in charge here. Trump is just a puppet.

[RobH413]

02:37 AM on 04/22/2011

This is what happens to a guy who walks around his whole life, surrounded by a bunch of bean counters and yes men with clipboards, hanging on his every word, and saying "Yes, Boss, that's right, you're brilliant, nobody's as smart as you." Trump has no idea what it's like to be challenged. He has no idea how to manage people. In the last couple of weeks, he's attacked Bill Cosby and Jerry Seinfeld. He's written temper-tantrum letters complaining about negative press from the NYT and Vanity Fair. He's actually claimed he's more qualified than Romney to be president in part because his "net worth is significantly more" than Romney's. Huh?

He's pissing off everybody. The only reason he's showing up in the polls is (1) there is a substantial minority of Republicans who want really badly to believe that Obama was born in Kenya, and (2) even though his personality is incredibly annoying, he's the only one in the Republican field that even has a personality.

[Marc Calamaras]

06:35 AM on 04/22/2011

You can hate his brash rhetoric, but Donald Trump is the only person in the media, let alone prospect candidate, talking about what he will DO regarding the most important economic issue that affects us all: The Price of Gas. Perhaps this is the reason why is showing up in the polls.

[tvollmers]

01:27 PM on 04/22/2011

he's painted himself into a corner by bringing up this birther nonesense. how could anyone take him seriously at this point? he has shown lack of judgment, common sense and savvy by embracing this crazy notion. i wouldn't trust him to be a greeter at Wal Mart, let along president of the country.

[Amalek]

12:39 AM on 04/22/2011

Trump went to the best business school in the world, according to him anyway.  (Wharton is pretty good, but probably not the top of anyone's list).   They failed to teach him the law of holes.

When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.

[Marc Calamaras]

06:56 AM on 04/22/2011

Perhaps you should do some research before you post. Here is the 2011 Financial Times Business School Rankings where you find Wharton being #1 for the past 3 years: http://rankings.ft.com/businessschoolrankings/global-mba-rankings-2011

[SamShah33]

10:34 AM on 04/22/2011

uhmm Yeah Wharton is one of THE BEST business schools in the world - i dont know where you got your information from. lol

[ashabot]

09:10 PM on 04/21/2011

America has slipped so far that even a spoiled brat pucker-faced clown can be a potential presidential candidate. Pathetic.

[RobH413]

02:27 AM on 04/22/2011

What does Newt Gingrich have to do with this?

[SamShah33]

10:35 AM on 04/22/2011

nope, thats what the beautiful thing about America is. ANYONE can run for president.

[ashabot]

09:38 PM on 04/22/2011

That's not what this is about. Too bad you don't understand that.

[dengal]

07:09 PM on 04/21/2011

hes trying to boost ratings for his lame show. He;s rude and clearly not presidential material

[chancetay]

06:58 PM on 04/21/2011

Yeehaw, I was watching that and George made The Hair very uncomfortable.

[Sol Rosenberg]

03:48 PM on 04/21/2011

Go comb your hair, stupid, and quit pretending you're going to run.

[alicante]

03:43 PM on 04/21/2011

I didn't think anyone could look worse than sarah when asked what she reads.

[Andman0121]

01:21 PM on 04/21/2011

He brags about his business acumen and how his own hard-work got him there...while neglecting the fact his daddy got him where he is today. Wow, that's pretty impressive there, CHET.

[Marc Calamaras]

02:46 PM on 04/21/2011

Do your research first before you type. His dad, Fred Trump, was an outer-borough man and had nothing to do with Manhattan. Donald Trump was and is all about Manhattan and made some amazing moves on his own, to purchase, build and control some of the nicest properties in the city. Of course he was schooled by his dad about basic business, but you do not get the Manhattan portfolio he has, and acquire the long list of Manhattan real estate transactions, by being a lazy idiot who given a handout.

[Counter Sniper]

03:31 PM on 04/21/2011

Ya right and if he had been born poor he would today be standing on a street corner drooling on himself with a sign saying he is the Messiah!!!!

[someonewhocares2]

07:41 PM on 04/21/2011

Hey Marc I did my homework heres what I found

"By the time of his death, (Fred) Trump had amassed a $400 million estate, left largely to his children, contributing a significant amount to Donald Trump's fortun"e