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Mike Pence: Birtherism Is Wrong

Despite Trump’s repeated refusal to denounce past claims.

Unlike his running mate, Mike Pence said he believes Barack Obama was born in the United States. After Donald Trump repeatedly declined to retract or apologize for his past claims that the president is not a U.S. citizen—a conspiracy theory that first brought the real-estate mogul to political prominence in 2011—his vice-presidential pick has been forced to play cleanup for him. “I believe Barack Obama was born in Hawaii,” Pence told reporters Wednesday. “I accept his birthplace.” Asked whether Trump should apologize for having stoked the widely debunked claims, Pence demurred, instead saying “Trump’s record both as a businessman and as a political leader and a patron in supporting minority efforts... really speaks for itself.”