Tiffany Trump, the 22-year-old daughter of Donald Trump and Marla Maples, said that her father’s “desire for excellence is contagious” while addressing the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Two passages – each 30 words or longer – matched a 2008 Democratic convention address by Michelle Obama almost word-for-word.
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RNC spokesman Sean Spicer, in a creative effort to shoot down the plagiarism charges, told CNN that words in Melania Trump’s speech bore similarities to quotes from John Legend, Kid Rock and Twilight Sparkle from “My Little Pony”.
Donald Trump says he’s proud to be the Republican presidential nominee.
What was initially thought to be a challenge from an anti-Trump delegate on the floor after the roll call was complete from the state of Alaska turned out to be a clarification of the state party rules.
Themes of the four-day event are all rooted in Trump’s Make American Great Again slogan: make America safe again, work again, first again and one again, in turn.
But for the most part the state delegations closed ranks behind the nominee, after a fractious opening day, when chaos broke out on the floor as anti-Trump delegates launched a short-lived revolt.
But an embarrassing plagiarism scandal tarnished her prime-time speech – and brought her husband’s presidential campaign under withering scrutiny.
The Trump campaign maintains Melania Trump’s speech Monday night used common words and values.
While the controversy burned and social media erupted with mocking commentary, the Trump team appeared in chaos – with denials of wrongdoing, followed by tacit admissions, followed by attempts to insulate Melania.
Trump’s campaign offered no apologies, with top adviser Paul Manafort telling The Associated Press the matter had been “totally blown out of proportion”. If they do, look for Trump supporters to respond in kind and tempers to rise.
“There’s just a passion for Donald, and his wife knocked it out of the park”, said Robert Antonacci of the NY delegation.
Such sentiments are common in speeches by political spouses but her sentences happen to closely mimic those in the chorus of Astley’s 1987 smash hit.
“This is a movement, but we have to go all the way, ” Trump said in videotaped remarks beamed into the convention hall. “I was a principal speechwriter for the speech”, Buckley told Vox.
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Both Mr Ryan and Mr McConnell need Mr Trump to do well in the November election as they seek to preserve majorities in Congress. “Chip in now to make sure he never steps foot in the Oval Office”. She spoke of his “simple goodness” and his loyalty and love of family – while noting the “drama” that comes with Trump in politics. Still, there were small flashes of the discord that has surged through the Republican Party throughout the primary season, with some delegates jeering loudly as states that Trump did not win cast their votes.
