Imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, but it’s doubtful Melania Trump was looking to flatter Michelle Obama with her speech to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland on Monday night.
Twitter began buzzing soon after the 15-minute speech wrapped up, in which the potential future first lady praised her husband, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, for his tenacity: “If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you that he’s the guy,” she said.
Observers stacked her speech alongside one that first lady Michelle Obama made at the 2008 Democratic National Convention and found some striking similarities:
More on the similarities between Melania Trump's speech & Michelle Obama's speech https://t.co/DsKbqBaV2e pic.twitter.com/Y5ldYzkxLm
— Javier Panzar (@jpanzar) July 19, 2016
Just ran Melania Trump and Michelle Obama's speeches through an online plagiarism detector pic.twitter.com/30t7ruIaWt
— Andrew Losowsky (@losowsky) July 19, 2016
“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,” said Melania Trump.
Virtually the same words were uttered by Michelle Obama in her 2008 speech. “…Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values. You work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond that you do what you say you’re gonna do…”
A look at similarities between Melania Trump’s speech and one Michelle Obama gave in 2008.
In another passage, Melania Trump said, “[W]e 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.”
While in Michelle Obama’s speech, the first lady said, “[W]e 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.”
Blame was quickly tossed at Melania Trump’s speechwriter:
As a speechwriter, it's okay to look to others for inspiration. Sometimes hard to avoid similar sounding speeches. You CAN'T just copy.
— Chrys Kefalas (@CKefalas) July 19, 2016
Some pointed out that in an interview with NBC earlier in the day, Melania Trump told Matt Lauer said she wrote her speech “with a little help.”
Donald Trump on Twitter praised his wife’s “speech and demeanor.”
It was truly an honor to introduce my wife, Melania. Her speech and demeanor were absolutely incredible. Very proud! #GOPConvention
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 19, 2016
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign rolled out a statement explaining her speech, though probably not to the satisfaction of those who viewed it as potential plagiarism. The Trump campaign said Melania Trump’s “team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.”
Trump campaign issues statement: pic.twitter.com/zgfOMmgGr3
— Robert Costa (@costareports) July 19, 2016
For Rick Astley fans, there was the Rickroll:
https://twitter.com/soniasaraiya/status/755255064219021312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
And it wasn’t too long until the hashtag #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes took off:
"I call for a complete shutdown of speeches, until we figure out what the hell is going on." #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
— Upright Citizen (@NEPpundit) July 19, 2016
Girl you know its true, ooh ooh ooohh i love you… #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes #millivanilli pic.twitter.com/IryTUUDFh1
— Carin K (@thelovelymissCK) July 19, 2016
"I’ll make him an offer he can’t refuse"
— Kodi Gaddis (@KodiGaddis) July 19, 2016
"You don't have to be rich to be my girl, you don't have to be cool to rule my world." #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
— Angela Romack (@angelamromack) July 19, 2016
"Gotta catch 'em all."#FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
— Drew Z. Greenberg (@DrewZachary) July 19, 2016
Ain't nobody got time for that! #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes
— Alec Mapa (@AlecMapa) July 19, 2016
This article was originally published on Marketwatch.
