(CNN) – Donald Trump is set to get a 'unique' gig at the Republican National Convention in late August, an aide to the real estate titan confirmed on Friday.
"Mr. Trump's role will occur at the Tampa Bay Times Forum (site of the convention), though the specifics of the role are not being released at this time. The role, like Mr. Trump, is unique and will be memorable for all those in attendance at the convention and those watching around the country. Stay tuned," Executive Vice President and Special Counsel Michael Cohen told CNN.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
– Check out the CNN Electoral Map and Calculator and game out your own strategy for November.
Late Friday morning on Twitter, Trump suggested he would be doing something other than delivering a speech at the event: "I was asked to speak at the RNC but said no, because I will be doing something much bigger–just watch!"
Trump, known as an outspoken critic of the Obama administration and a pusher of the so-called birther issue, is set to be recognized as the 2012 Statesman of the Year by the Sarasota, Florida, Republican Party one day before the GOP convention opens in Tampa later this month.
After flirting with his own presidential bid last year, Trump came out in support for Romney in February of this year. The chairman of the Republican National Committee, however, would not say whether Trump would get a special spot at the national party's major gathering.
"I don't know right now what he's going to do at the convention," Reince Priebus told CNN's John Berman on "Starting Point." "But I do know that he's important to us and that he's somebody that we appreciate, because he's telling us the truth as far as where we're at in this economy."
As for the 'birther' controversy–in which some argue President Barack Obama was not born in the United States–Priebus said he has long viewed the claims as a "distraction."
"I have been, from the very moment that I've been chairman of this party, very clear as for where I stand on that issue. It's just as much of a distraction as it is for people to ask for more and more tax returns," Priebus said, referring to demands by Obama's re-election campaign and some Republicans for Romney to release more tax documents.
The RNC committee has announced the names of several headliners this week for the upcoming convention, which include many Republican governors and other high-profile Republicans.
ABC News first reported news of Trump's role at the convention.
– CNN's Paul Steinhauser, John Berman, and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Let me guess, it's going o be "yoooooge."
let me guess. They will have a version of The Apprentice with spliced in footage of Obama talking about what he has done for the economy. Making him look incompetent of course. At the end Trump will say Your Fired.
Whatever Riebus. He's getting a spot because he says what all of you feel but are afraid to say in public. Statesman of the year?? For what?? Blatantly lying? Oh what am I thinking? Blatant lying is the rethuglican way.
And btw, asking for more of Robmeys tax returns is NOTHING like asking a sitting POTUS to produce his birth certificate. Something no other candidate in history has ever been asked. Every presidential candidate since Willards father has shown at least ten but he feels entitled to the Presidency, so he won't. Stop comparing apples to grapefruits, there's a huge difference. (yes I know it's apples)
OBAMA 2012!
If you think this guy is relevant, you just might be trailer trash.
Maybe he'll set himself on fire. I'd remember that, for sure.
It's just as much of a distraction as it is for people to ask for more and more tax returns," Priebus said, referring to demands by Obama's re-election campaign and some Republicans for Romney to release more tax documents.
Yeah, because showing a birth certificate you have already shown a gazillion and one times which is PROVEN to be authentic by the state that it came from is the same thing as only showing a partial year (yes, the one year Romney has actually released doesn't have all of the information is actually only a partial year) and an estimate for one other year and refusing to release anymore tax returns when you're running for POTUS and a big argument for why you should be elected is your business expertise is the same thing ... except that IT ISN'T.
Oh geez!!! I cannot believe Romney is going to elect this doofus as his running mate (vice president). That is ridiculous.
Will the RNC pass out aluminum foil hats for the delegates to wear during Trump's speech? Will Trump renew his call for transcripts of Obama's grades in school? Will Trump toss a few million in walking-around money into a Romney superPAC? The anticipation of this groundbreaking event is almost too much!
What "role" ??? It's for entertainment value, nothing more, nothing less. I am still waiting for him to say one substantive thing about politics.
Does not say much for the GOP or maybe it does say a lot! Can't take serious a party filled with hate and anger. Maybe they are trying to show that also have a sense of humor by having a clown participate.
All hail the demise of the Republican party as we have come to know it during this election year. Hopefully, from the ashes will arise the moderate conservatism that can compromise with the conservative Democrats to get this nation moving in the right direction again.
Berluti clown shoes? Check
Tinfoil toupee? Check
Giant dogwhistle to birthers? Check
Sunstanceless ideological platitudes and angry demagogue rhetoric? Check
Froth? Check
All systems ready for launch...
Clown shoes by Berluti.
Bring on the clowns! Trump is Number 1. Show me yor friends and I"l tell U what U R-rich, rich, rich. If Rmoney gets in Trump will be ready to buy all those vacant govt buildings!
The rich realy are different.........
I say put this right next to the "Astonishing Discoveries" that Trumps investigators found in Hawaii. He is full of it and CNN nows it. Please stop giving this clown ink.
What better headliner at the GOP Circus than the biggest clown ever?
Bring on the clowns!!! Trump is Number 1. He solidifies the Rmoney charge that he favors the rich!!!
It's hard to believe this clown keeps showing up,the republican party has really changed. How can anyone be part of a party that supports Trump, Palin, Bachmann and the rest of these nut jobs. Ronald Reagan the last great republican,would be shocked at what has happened to his party.
This puts the party into proper perspective. As Mencken put it: a carnival of buncombe.
Perhaps they'll have a pig-roasting segment, and they'll roast this ugly pig....R-money keeps saying that McCain, when running for pres 4 years ago only released 2 years of taxes, but he won't say that McCain has been a senator a long time, so he has released his papers through the years. On top of that, R-money has released only ONE year (2010), and it wasn't even correct, and the 2011 one he only released an ESTIMATE. Where is the final? We are in 2012, Bozo! What makes you so special that you haven't even finished 2011 taxes? Willard is so used to having his way all these years that when confronted with reality doesn't know how to respond...to be continued...
The clown with the biggest mouth.
Mitt & Trump...together again. As rich as those two are how could they possibly know what middle America is going through. Their policies are to take us back to what caused this mess to begin with....cut taxes for the rich and put a greater financial burden on the middle and lower classes. Trckle down economics is a failure on all levels, except the wealthy.
More millionaires trying to sell the Americans on their plan to save themselves more money (so they can contribute more to PACs) and convince America that they are doing it for the middle class. Just how many jobs did they create with the last tax cut and the tax cut before that they said was going to happen? The GOP started the day after the 2008 election to defeat the current President. They haven't done anything FOR the American people. Where are your ideas GOP? They have none. They just want to get to the White House and screw up like Bush/Chaney did. We remember it all, GOP!
"Yes, I will have fries with that."
Can't wait.