CNN host Jake Tapper declared Friday that Donald Trump had "rick-rolled" the media by getting them to cover his "major statement" about the President Obama birther issue that mostly consisted of military personnel endorsing his candidacy.
Tapper was referencing an online prank that involves users clicking on a disguised link and being sent to Rick Astley’s "Never Gonna Give You Up" instead of the original title of the link.
Trump’s campaign initially stated that the press conference would focus on his past remarks about President Obama’s birthplace. All networks carried it live and for the first 30 minutes featured veterans discussed why they are endorsing Trump.
The Republican nominee eventually came to the podium and quickly declared, "Hillary Clinton and her campaign of 2008 started the birther controversy. I finished it. I finished it. You know what I mean. President Barack Obama was born in the United States, period."
He then walked off the stage and ended the event.
One Washington Post writer declared it "the greatest trick he’s ever pulled."
CNN host John King seemed to agree with Tapper and noted afterwards that "we got played, again, by the Trump campaign, which is what they do."