Convention Copycat: Did Melania Trump Lift Michelle’s 2008 Speech?

Melania Trump’s speech contained a section very similar to that delivered by First Lady Michelle Obama in 2008.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is joined by his wife Melania Trump. (Photo: AP)

In what will come as major embarrassment for Donald Trump and his campaign team, Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump is being accused of resorting to plagiarism to win over Americans.

The speech made at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Monday contained text which was similar to that delivered by none other than the outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama at the Democratic convention in 2008.

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 me to show the values and morals in my daily life. That is the lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. 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.

Melania Trump

These lines from Melania Trump’s roughly 15-minute speech at the convention appear to have been picked almost verbatim from Michelle Obama’s speech.

In 2008, Michelle had referenced to her strong family bonds and family values in very similar words in support of Barack Obama’s bid for the democratic nomination.

Before Monday’s speech, Melania, a Slovenian-born jewellery designer and former model, told NBC’s Matt Lauer: “I wrote it... with as little help as possible.”

A representative of the Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.