By CNN Political Unit
(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 country. Stay tuned,” Executive Vice President and Special Counsel Michael Cohen told CNN.
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 some former 2012 presidential candidates.
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.
