Donald Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort thinks it's "just really absurd" that anyone would even suggest Melania Trump lifted Michelle Obama's words for her speech at the Republican National Convention on Monday night. "I mean, she was speaking in front of 35 million people last night," Manafort said Tuesday morning on CNN's New Day. "She knew that. To think that she would be cribbing Michelle Obama's words is crazy."
Manafort explained that the only reason Trump's words might appear strikingly similar to Obama's is because "these are common words and values that she cares about — her family, things like that." The passages called into question dealt with passing values along to the next generation, including the importance of hard work. Trump and Obama both said — nearly word for word — that "your word is your bond" and what you achieve depends on "your dreams and your willingness to work" for them, but Manafort maintained there was no plagiarism to be had.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Ukraine cheers House approval of military aidSpeed Read Following a lengthy struggle, the House has approved $95 billion in aid for Ukraine and Israel
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spiesSpeed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrikeSpeed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claimsSpeed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claimsSpeed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aidSpeed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of warSpeed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
-
Trump's first criminal trial starts with jury picksSpeed Read The former president faces charges related to hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels
