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On Monday night, Donald Trump briefly took to the Republican National Convention stage to introduce his wife, Melania. During her speech, many said she came off as charming, often discussing her husband’s kinder, softer, side. The speech won her praise, until some on social media, including journalist Jarrett Hill, pointed out that entire passages appeared to be lifted from Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech.
Here is a section of Trump’s speech:
“From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me morals in their daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to many generations to follow because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”
Now Obama’s:
“… Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them, and even if you don’t agree with them. And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children — and all children in this nation — to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.”
Even with the strikingly similar speeches laid out in plain sight, the Trump campaign is denying any parts were lifted from Obama’s.
Trump’s campaign chairman Paul Manafort told CNN’s Chris Cuomo, “To think that she would do something like that knowing how scrutinized her speech was going to be last night is just really absurd.”
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie additionally came to her defense telling CNN, “I just don’t see it…If we’re talking about 7 percent of a speech, that was really, universally considered to be a good performance by Melania. I know her. There’s no way that Melania Trump was plagiarizing Michelle Obama’s speech.”
Twitter users, however, were not buying it. Mrs. Trump quickly became the butt of an internet joke with #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes.
The Trump campaign is standing by its first lady. In an email statement from the Trump campaign senior communications adviser Jason Miller says:
“In writing her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking. Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success.”
