PLAGIARISM: Melania Trump Speech Mirrors Michelle Obama in 2008

The Donald Trump campaign attempted to explain how an entire paragraph of a Michelle Obama speech appeared in the one given by Melania Trump last night.

They released a statement (quote) “In her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments of that reflected her own thinking.”

Those so-called “fragments” were lifted word-for-word from Michelle Obama at the Democratic convention eight years ago. Here's side-by-side examples of how Melania's speech copies Obama's.

Michelle Obama in 2008 said: "... that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you’re gonna do."

Melania Trump said last night: "... that your word is your bond, and you do what you say."

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Obama: "... because we want our children and all children in this nation to know the only limits on the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."

Trump: "... 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."

Journalist Jarrett Hill was the first to point out the similarities on Twitter. Then others spliced video of the two speeches to reveal that a whole paragraph was lifted. Twitter responded with the hashtag #FamousMelaniaTrumpQuotes

Say What:

Sadly, the paragraph spoke of “hard work,” but plagiarism is lazy.

Blame the teleprompter. She didn't write the speech. Melania was reading somebody else's written words. Namely Michelle Obama's.

Update The Trump campaign denies accusations that Melania Trump plagiarized Michelle Obama's speech and insists, "These were common words and values that she cares about — her family, things like that." (Washington Times)