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First, the bad news for Donald Trump fans: He鈥檚 apparently not going to give a prime-time speech at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla. He declined an invitation to deliver a major address 鈥渂ecause he relishes the role he plays as an independent voice and believes his support of the Romney campaign could be served in other ways,鈥� according to a story Thursday in the conservative publication .听

But fear not Trumpizens, there鈥檚 good news, too! The Donald is going to take part in a big 鈥渟urprise鈥� at the GOP confab, says the Newsmax account, 鈥渂ut the nature of his involvement is being kept secret.鈥�

We love surprises, and this one sounds delicious 鈥� what do you think Team Romney allegedly wants the developer/reality show host to do?

Well, we鈥檝e got a couple comments here. First, Mitt Romney has said nothing about this, so maybe it won't happen. But we have little doubt that the Newsmax account is accurate insofar as it reflects Mr. Trump鈥檚 actual thoughts. It has interviewed Trump a number of times before, and Trump was scheduled to host a Newsmax-sponsored debate during the primary campaign until most GOP contenders declined to participate. The Newsmax story credits 鈥渟ources with knowledge of convention plans,鈥� and we would be unshocked if said sources were a strangely coiffed New York real estate billionaire and one of his aides.

Second, we鈥檙e pretty sure the surprise won鈥檛 involve a renewed call for President Obama鈥檚 long-form birth certificate, or another of Trump鈥檚 more outr茅 political interests. Nominees get to run the whole show at big party political conventions, and presumptive banner-carrier Romney is well aware that Trump鈥檚 bluster about possible secrets in Mr. Obama鈥檚 past does not play well with independent voters. Plus, Trump won鈥檛 just blurt something out. He鈥檚 perfectly capable of playing coy when the situation demands it.

On Tuesday, for instance, that Obama needs to release his college records. Then he declined to elaborate as to why, despite pointed follow-up questions from the Fox News host.

(Go to , and you find the fuller story. The Donald has tweeted that it鈥檚 possible Obama applied to Occidental College as a foreign student, among other things.)

Finally, there are at least two policy messages Romney might find it useful for Trump to convey. One is about China. Both the billionaire and the ex-Massachusetts governor have been very tough on the Chinese, citing Beijing鈥檚 currency manipulation as a reason for its economic rise, among other things. So the 鈥渟urprise鈥� could involve some sort of rousing pro-US economic exceptionalism speech.

But the more likely message for Trump is obvious. He鈥檚 most famous nowadays not for being a casino mogul, not for dating supermodels, but for his 鈥�Celebrity Apprentice鈥� reality show.

Here鈥檚 wagering that the 鈥渟urprise鈥� will involve Donald Trump striding on stage in front of a full crowd of cheering Republicans, and shouting one line: 鈥淏arack Obama, you鈥檙e fired!鈥�

It鈥檒l blow the roof off the arena. And as Trump tweeted on Thursday, the new season of his show will start filming in five weeks, and the 鈥渁ll-star鈥� cast will be announced soon. Say what you want about his hair, Donald Trump is great at timing his publicity.