Trump rep confirms Romney meeting for Thursday

[June 27, 2012]  NEW YORK (AP) -- A representative for Donald Trump says that the reality television star will host a $50,000-a-head fundraiser with Mitt Romney this week. But the Romney campaign isn't so sure.

The presumptive Republican presidential candidate's campaign reported Tuesday afternoon there would be no meeting with Trump this week. Minutes later, the Trump representative confirmed the event, which is expected to bring at least 50 people paying $50,000 each to the home of stock investor Martin Zweig in Manhattan's Pierre Hotel.

The fundraiser is planned for Thursday, the same day the Supreme Court is set to decide the constitutionality of President Barack Obama's signature health care overhaul.

Trump has provided Romney with plenty of campaign cash and unwanted attention in recent weeks. They last appeared together at a Las Vegas fundraiser the day before Romney collected enough delegates to become the GOP's presumptive nominee. At the time, Trump's comments about Obama's citizenship overshadowed Romney's success.

The conservative businessman has endorsed the "birther" movement, which questions the legitimacy of Obama's birth certificate and his constitutional qualifications to be president. The debunked conspiracy theory among conservative activists charges that Obama is not a "natural-born citizen" as required by the Constitution.

Romney has said he believes Obama was born in America, but he has not condemned Trump's comments.

Nor was his campaign willing to clarify plans for Thursday. Romney spokesman Rick Gorka said there would be "no meeting" with Trump this week, but he refused to say whether they would appear together at the Manhattan fundraiser.

Trump himself took to Twitter on Tuesday to say he was "looking forward to the `Dine with Mitt and Donald' this Thursday.'"

"Can't wait to meet the lucky winner," Trump tweeted, referencing a "Dine With the Donald" contest the Romney campaign promoted last month at $3 a ticket.

"That won't be happening this week," Gorka said without ruling out another event with Trump this week.

[Associated Press; By STEVE PEOPLES and BETH FOUHY]

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