The news of McIver’s involvement in the saga was first noted by the New York Times, which also reported a speech was prepared originally by two professional speechwriters but disregarded by Melania.
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Melania Trump’s speech to delegates on Monday used passages from Michelle Obama’s address to the Democratic National Convention in 2008, drawing accusations of plagiarism.
Melania Trump’s speechwriter admitted to her role in the Michelle Obama plagiarism scandal today, but said her bosses have already forgiven her for the “innocent mistake”.
See the full statement here.
Paul Manafort, Trump’s top campaign adviser, said Wednesday that it will be clear from Cruz’s speech that he’s supporting Trump, though “how he says it, I don’t know”. McIver said she offered her resignation over the incident, but Donald Trump rejected it. McIver then wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in a draft that became Melania Trump’s speech on Monday night.
“Over the phone, she [Melania] read me some passages from Mrs. Obama’s speech as examples”, McIver wrote.
“I did not check Mrs Obama’s speeches”.
McIver was described in the statement as an “in-house staff writer at the Trump Organization”. But her statement was the first sign of the Trump campaign acknowledging the similarities between the speeches as more than just coincidence.
Echoing the calls of anti-Trump backers who sought to unbind convention delegates to vote as they wish – regardless of their state primary results – Cruz added: “What I do know is every one of us has an obligation to follow our conscience and to speak the truth, and truth is unchangeable”.
“I asked to put out this statement because I did not like seeing the way this was distracting from Mr. Trump’s historic campaign for president and Melania’s lovely message and presentation”, McIver said.
Trump took to Twitter on Wednesday to comment on the swirling controversy, saying: “Good news is Melania’s speech got more publicity than any in the history of politics especially if you believe that all press is good press!” Ted Cruz exacerbated the party’s divides by refusing to publicly endorse Trump in his own speech.
Speakers include: Lynne Patton; Eric Trump; former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista; and Indiana Governor Mike Pence, whom Trump has chosen as his vice presidential running mate.
The Texas senator was expected to continue sidestepping a formal endorsement of Trump during his convention remarks.
There is growing speculation that the name is simply an alias, a fictional name for the Trump campaign to hide behind as Republicans and Democrats alike are furious that the potential First Lady has fluffed her first major appearance. “It’s a huge opportunity for him and a very nice gesture from the Trump campaign”.
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Mrs. Trump’s address was otherwise distinct from the speech that Mrs. Obama gave when her husband was being nominated for president.
