Donald Trump’s potential neighbor on Pennsylvania Avenue isn’t thrilled with the cultural icon’s persistent questions about President Obama’s birthplace.
“I believe it’s inappropriate to ask those questions of the president,” D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray said Wednesday. “There is nothing to suggest that he’s not an American citizen.”
In an effort to debunk the allegations, Obama released his birth certificate last April. Trump, though, has continued to press his case.
He’s also continued to expand his real estate holdings, and in February, the federal government said that it had picked Trump’s company to convert the Old Post Office Pavilion into a luxury hotel.
But in recent days, Trump has drawn more attention for his aggressive questioning of Obama’s constitutional eligibility for the presidency than he has for his plans to renovate the District landmark.
Gray told reporters that Trump’s commentary wouldn’t impact any decisions about how the city would support the project — but that’s because Trump’s company hasn’t asked for help yet.
“I don’t know what Mr. Trump may be asking for,” Gray said. “I’ve seen no proposed action. At the point there’s some request or some proposed action, we’ll address it then.”
Trump is still negotiating with the General Services Administration about the final terms of a deal.
Sticking with presidential politics, Gray didn’t respond to a request for comment about Republican nominee Mitt Romney, but he did reiterate his support for Obama.
“I’m looking forward to continuing to work with President Obama,” Gray said.
The District overwhelmingly voted for Obama in 2008.
