Donald Trump Jr. is convinced Obama lifted this line from his speech

Back in 2010, President Obama said to a crowd in Cleveland, Ohio: "That is not the America I know." And while Obama may have said it first, Donald Trump Jr. is convinced he's the one that actually came up with the line after it appeared in both men's speeches at their respective party conventions this month. On Thursday, the day after Obama delivered his speech to the Democratic National Convention, Donald Jr. leveled an accusation of plagiarism against Obama for using the phrase, which he'd used last week in his address to the Republican National Convention.
In fact, Donald Jr. suggested everyone should be just as angry about this incidence of plagiarism as they were last week about Melania Trump's lifting of several lines, nearly verbatim, from Michelle Obama's 2008 convention speech:
But in the instance of the president's shared phrase with Donald Jr., not only was the context radically different, but also it was Obama who'd uttered that phrase first. Aside from that 2010 mention in Cleveland, NBC News reported Obama used the line in Michigan in 2012 and, most recently, at the memorial service for Dallas police officers earlier this month.
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.
And before Obama even said those fateful words, President George W. Bush did. Way back in 2001, in the days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Bush used the phrase while discussing prejudice against Muslims. "That's not the America I know," Bush lamented — nearly 15 years before Donald Jr., apparently, came up with his signature saying.
Update 4:30 p.m.: Donald Trump Jr. now claims he was joking about being plagiarized by President Obama.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
El Palace Barcelona: old-world luxury in the heart of the city
The Week Recommends This historic hotel is set within a former Ritz outpost moments from the Passeig de Gràcia
-
The best history books to read in 2025
The Week Recommends These fascinating deep-dives are perfect for history buffs
-
July 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the danger of talking politics at a family picnic, and disappearing Medicaid entitlements
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami