When Melania Trump took the stage at the Republican National Convention to speak about her husband, Donald Trump, people noticed that her speech had some similarities to Michelle Obama’s 2008 speech in support of husband and then presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
The lines which appear to be lifted from Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention speech highlight the importance of hard work, honesty, and respect.
Speaking to NBC’s Matt Lauer earlier on Tuesday, Melania Trump said, “I read once over it and that’s all. Because I wrote it and with as little help as possible.”
Jason Miller, Trump communications adviser, stated that, “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.”
Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort spoke on the supposed plagiarism, saying, “There’s no cribbing of Michelle Obama’s speech. These were common words and values that she cares about—her family, things like that.”
“To think that she would do something like that knowing how scrutinized her speech was going to be last night is just really absurd.”
