This post was really interesting. It should have been obvious from the start that Trump was two steps ahead of you guys on this one. Clearly, someone on the Trump campaign received the “birther” talking points distributed by the Clinton campaign earlier in the week and he was ready.

When several networks took the bait and asked Trump the “birther” question Trump set his trap. He wouldn’t answer the question directly but had his campaign issue a statement instead. The funny thing is he almost let the cat out of the bag when he told a reporter that he didn’t want to ruin the suspense.

The cable networks ran wall-to-wall coverage of Trump’s initial refusal to comment, on his campaign’s statement, and demanded Trump personally say the words, “President Obama was born in the United States”. The coordinate between the networks and the Clinton campaign was stunning — first a moving commentary on Trump’s “racist” claims by Hillary Clinton and then a quick cut to the White House to hear Obama’s thoughts on the matter. The network pundits demanded Trump admit the truth, apologize to President Obama and the American people.

The coverage was so in-depth and extensive the media KNEW that Trump would be forced to address the issue — sooner than later. He didn’t disappoint tweeting:

The media was convinced that Trump intended to hold a press conference despite the fact he only said he was going to make a “major statement”. The media’s assumption was that it had to do with the “birther” issue, but Trump had other plans. He started his statement by promoting his new hotel in DC — the venue of his statement. Taking advantage of the salivating media frenzy he paraded hero after hero to the stage to endorse him — and the networks didn’t know what to do. Dare they cut away from one of the heroes? What would the American people say? Eventually, CNN couldn’t take it and cut to a “mad as hell” Jake Tapper who lost his shit. He claimed the campaign lied to him — that he was told there would be a statement on the “birther” issue.

Of course Trump came to the podium in the final 30 seconds of the event and about as simply as he could explained that he thought President Obama was born in the United States — Period. The press in the room, like Jake Tapper in the studio, lost their shit as Trump exited the room. How dare he not answer more questions about where Obama was born?!?

If you guys didn’t know this was coming you haven’t been paying attention. Despite the fact that he doesn’t exercise, Trump is a very astute student of Judo — using the power and weight of his opponents against them. Time after time Trump has been able to turn attacks against him on his opponents — in this case — the media. Trump voters took three things away from this particular fight: a) the media isn’t playing fair — they’re actively trying to sabotage his campaign, b) Hillary or her “ardent supporters” were originally behind the “birther” conspiracy, and c) Trump is being endorsed by 14 medal of honor heroes. Trump managed to all of this in exchange for giving the media what they demanded of him — a simple statement of fact. Yes, Obama you were born in the United States. Kudos Trump…