in Politics

Trump Campaign Denies That Melania Trump Plagiarized Michelle Obama’s Speech

by Andrew July 19, 2016, 4:08 pm 88 Comments

Donald Trump’s campaign fired back at allegations that Melania Trump plagiarized a speech from Michelle Obama. The speech was given at the Republican National Convention Monday evening. The campaign brushed off the allegations, stating that they’re “really absurd.”

Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chairman, states, “To think that she would do something like that knowing how scrutinized her speech was going to be last night is really absurd.”

One paragraph during the speech is under the most scrutiny and is undeniably similar to, if not taken directly from, the speech Michelle Obama gave at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.

Melania Trump’s Speech

Trump’s speech on Monday states, “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 values and morals in their daily lives. That is a lesson that I continue to pass along to our son.”

Trump continued, “And we need to pass those lessons on to the 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.”

Michelle Obama’s Speech

Obama’s speech from 2008 is as follows, “And 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 to 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.”

Trump’s campaign asserts that numerous people helped edit the speech, and that the similarities are coincidence based off of her life experiences and values.