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
-
Valle dell'Erica Thalasso & Spa: a tranquil haven in Sardinia
The Week Recommends This family-friendly resort is steps from the sea and boasts a well-equipped kids' club
-
America's controversial path to the atomic bomb
In Depth The bombing of Hiroshima followed years of escalation by the U.S., but was it necessary?
-
Crossword: August 6, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats
-
Texas Democrats exit state to block redistricting vote
Speed Read More than 51 legislators fled the state in protest of the GOP's plan to redraw congressional districts
-
Trump criticized for firing BLS chief after jobs report
Speed Read Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer oversaw a July jobs report that the president claims was rigged
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest