Word for word: Melania Trump echoes Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech (VIDEO)
After Melania Trump’s headline speech at the Republican National Convention, many noticed that what the billionaire's wife said seemed familiar, something they’d heard somewhere in the past. Or had they?
Yes, it was Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech.
So, did Mrs. Trump lift an entire paragraph from the current first lady, almost word for word? Well, take a listen.
Literally word for word. pic.twitter.com/aefsDqf7hc
— Breaking News Feed (@pzf) July 19, 2016
Following the discovery, social media erupted, with users expressing their outrage or joking under the hashtags #MelaniaTrump and #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes.
Irony doesn't get any sweeter than stealing a speech about the importance of honesty and hard work. #MelaniaTrump#RNCinCLE
— Jason Febery (@JasonFebery) July 19, 2016
#JesseWilliams on #MelaniaTrump's plagiarism 😩😩😩😩 pic.twitter.com/X1FyHYOQu8
— TheShadeRoom (@TheShadeRoom) July 19, 2016
I'd rather be the guy who led the failed Turkish coup than the guy who wrote the #MelaniaTrump speech. https://t.co/HRjszXqUgG
— Rod Lurie (@RodLurie) July 19, 2016
What makes things worse for the would-be first lady, is that before the speech, she told NBC’s Matt Lauer, “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
Trump’s campaign didn’t hesitate to issue a statement regarding the speech, saying it doesn’t view it as plagiarized.
NEW: Trump campaign issues statement on Melania's speech - doesn't acknowledge apparent plagiarism. pic.twitter.com/iP5vqAtcZ3
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) July 19, 2016
Melania also borrowed a bit from Rick Astley, leading sharp-eared listeners to realize they’d been “rickrolled” after she said that her husband “will never, ever give up. And, most importantly, he will never, ever let you down.” Melania’s words are remarkably similar to Astley’s 1987 hit ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’.
But to reiterate (and to paraphrase @tvoti), the real speechwriter's scandal here is this ACTUAL RICKROLL?!?!?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/eSuFbbVs43
— mr. sonia (@soniasaraiya) July 19, 2016