Melania Trump’s big night failed to draw in bumper audiences to the major TV networks. Within minutes, social media and cable news were skewering the political spouse and her team with side-by-side videos of the speeches, wondering how this could have possibly happened.
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But her speech was quickly overtaken by charges that it included two passages- each 30 words or longer – that matched a 2008 Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama almost word-for-word.
“It’s my honor to be able to throw Donald Trump over the top in the delegate count tonight with 89 delegates”, Donald Jr. said on the convention floor surrounded by three of Trump’s other children – Ivanka, Eric and Tiffany.
Convention organizers were anxious about political protests in Cleveland, but so far demonstrations have been peaceful.
But to borrow the parlance of Trump the businessman, the deal will nearly certainly be sealed Tuesday night.
This, after unwelcome attention over a loud if short-lived protest on opening day over convention rules aimed at tamping down any remaining threat to Trump’s triumph. This time, it’s also another opportunity for discord to be heard.
Hours before giving the speech on Monday, Melania Trump told Matt Lauer, the anchor of NBC’s “Today” program that she wrote it with as little help as possible.
Two of the most iconic rock British rock bands are irritated by Donald Trump’s continued use of their music during his campaign events. She praised his “simple goodness” and his loyalty to and love of family – while noting the “drama” that comes with Trump in politics.
“If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you, he is the guy”, Mrs. Trump told delegates.
The admission came in a written statement (viewable below in its entirety) on Wednesday from Meredith McIver, the writer who worked with Melania on the speech.
Trump earned the 1,237 bound delegates necessary to secure the party’s nomination in early June.
“It’s coercion masquerading as unity”, said a stunned-looking Utah Senator Mike Lee – who has led the Never Trump effort – as he spoke to reporters after the effort on the convention floor.
Earth to Rudy: The former mayor of NY once claimed to be a practical and moderate Republican, but Slate’s Fred Kaplan writes, his speech at the convention was bombastic, angry, and mostly nonsensical. “If Hillary Clinton can’t give us the truth”, Smith asked, “why should we give her the presidency?”
The White House steered clear Tuesday of the controversy over Melania Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He called Kasich “petulant” and “embarrassing” for not endorsing Trump or attending the convention, drawing quick condemnation from other GOP leaders anxious about angering the popular governor of one of the most important election states. They were quickly quieted and the evening program unfolded more on script.
That left Trump with an eclectic array of validators, among them Willie Robertson, star of “Duck Dynasty”, who took the stage with an American flag bandanna wrapped around his head.
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“You know, the Trump Organization, whether it’s Paul Manafort or anyone, all the way up to Donald Trump himself, anytime they are caught red handed engaging in distortions, inaccuracies, a fact pattern that is clearly not accurate, they blame someone else”, she said.
