Melania Trump’s speech Monday evening at the Republican National Convention was initially well-received, but has come under fire for passages that mirror a 2008 speech by first lady Michelle Obama.
Critics point to two passages that were nearly the same as passages from Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver:
Trump: “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 life.”
Obama: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that 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.”
Trump: “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.”
Obama: “Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values and to pass them onto 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 hard for them.”
Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, denied allegations that Melania Trump plagiarized Obama’s speech, calling the accusation “just really absurd.” And New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie defended the speech, saying, “There’s no way that Melania Trump was plagiarizing Michelle Obama’s speech.”
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