Melania felt 'abandoned' after accusations of plagiarizing Michelle Obama (original) (raw)
Melania Trump felt 'abandoned' after being accused of plagiarizing Michelle Obama's speech
In her new memoir, Melania Trump describes her 2016 speech as having "undeniable similarities" to one Michelle Obama made eight years before including some parts which were copied nearly word for word
Melania was accused of copying Michelle Obama's earlier speech
Melania Trump has revealed she was left feeling 'completely abandoned' after accusations emerged she plagiarized one of Michelle Obama's speeches.
Melania's 2016 speech was to have been her first real introduction to American voters who’d seen her by her husband’s side for months but had barely heard her speak. But when she spoke, people were quick to point out the similarities, which Melania herself described as "undeniable."
In one example, Mrs. Trump said: “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.”
Melania Trump recalls 'undeniable spark' when she first met Donald in rare glimpse into marriage
First Lady Melania Trump, President Donald Trump, former President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama at the US Capitol after inauguration ceremonies at the in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2017 (
Image:
AFP/Getty Images)
Eight years before, Mrs. Obama said: “And Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: like, you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you’re going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect.”
There were similar overlaps in a passage dealing with conveying to children that there is no limit to what they can achieve. Mrs. Trump’s address was otherwise distinct from the speech that Mrs. Obama gave when her husband was being nominated for president.
Addressing the scandal, Melania wrote in her new memoir: "My sense of accomplishment on our flight back home swiftly turned to dismay and shock as news of a potential accusation of plagiarism reached our campaign. My initial reaction was one of disbelief, but upon closer examination, the undeniable similarities between the two speeches left me reeling."
Michelle Obama was a much loved First Lady (
Image:
Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images)
An employee of the Trump Organization is specifically named as the person behind the mistake - Meredith McIver. According to Melania, she had shared Michelle Obama's speech with Ms McIver as it "resonated deeply" with her.
In the book Melania writes that Meredith publicly apologized saying Obama's quotes were mistakenly included in the draft. She also accused Trump Campaign and the RNC of leaving Melania on my own.
She writes: "Discovering the team's failure to perform their duty filled me with a profound sense of betrayal. These were professionals, charged with ensuring the success of our campaign, yet they failed to implement even the most fundamental safeguard. This negligence left me feeling completely abandoned. I felt a deep sense of outrage and disappointment."
After that she vowed not to delegate certain tasks and said it served as a "crucial lesson in the realities of the political world.”
Melania Trump’s memoir, Melania, published by Skyhorse, is available Oct. 8 wherever books are sold.