CLEVELAND — A portion of the speech given by Melania Trump during the first night of the Republication National Convention is similar in sections to one previously given by first lady Michelle Obama in 2008.
The similarities were first pointed out by Jarrett Hill on Twitter, who has since been retweeted more than 7,000 times.
Here is the portion in question from Melania’s speech on Monday:
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 in their daily lives. That is a lesson that we continue to pass on 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 achievement is the strength of your dream and your willingness to work for them.
Here is a portion from Michelle’s speech which is the comparison:
And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like 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 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.
Before she took the stage, Melania told NBC’s Matt Lauer that she wrote the speech.
“I read, once, over it, that’s all,” she says in the interview, which was captured on video. “Because I wrote it with as little help, as possible.”
VIDEO: Melania Trump told NBC’s Matt Lauer before the speech: “I wrote it…with a little help as possible.” https://t.co/MZraa04Goj
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) July 19, 2016
Lauer’s full interview with Donald and Melania Trump will air Tuesday on Today.
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Donald sent out a tweet after his wife spoke, praising her.
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
He also previously praised a speech by Michelle.
Very good speech by @MichelleObama–and under great pressure–Dems should be proud!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2012
Conservative political analyst Brit Hume called the evidence “damaging.”
Sad to say, this is damaging. Intercut sound bites leave no doubt. https://t.co/rezA9agDDA
— Brit Hume (@brithume) July 19, 2016
In a statement released in the early morning hours on Tuesday, a spokesman for the Trump campaign said 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,” according to the statement.
There was no mention of the bubbling scandal.
July 19, 2 a.m. ET: This story has been updated with a statement from the Trump campaign.
