News / Politics

Trump campaign defends Melania on plagiarism accusations

Tuesday, 19 July 2016 1:06 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 19 July 2016 1:06 PM ]

Presumptive US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump introduces his wife, Melania, (out of frame) to delegates on the first day of the Republican National Convention on July 18, 2016 at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. (AFP photo)

Presumptive US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign has rejected accusations that parts of a speech the billionaire's wife, Melania, delivered at the Republican National Convention were plagiarized from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic convention speech.

Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said Melania Trump “hit it out of the park” on Monday night with her address on the first day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

“I thought Melania Trump hit it out of the park when she talked about her love of family, the feeling of an immigrant that comes to this country and succeeds,” Manafort said. “And I thought that the feeling she has towards her husband and her depiction of the real Donald Trump came through loud and clear.”

“There's no cribbing of Michelle Obama's speech. These are common words and values that she cares about her family, things like that,” he said when asked about the plagiarism allegations.

“I mean, she was speaking in front of 35 million people last night. She knew that. To think that she would be cribbing Michelle Obama's words is crazy. This is once again an example of when a woman threatens Hillary Clinton, how she seeks out to demean her and take her down. It's not going to work.”

Meanwhile, Trump spokesman Jason Miller defended Melania from plagiarism allegations in a statement issued early Tuesday morning.

“In writing her beautiful speech, Melania’s team of writers took notes on her life’s inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking,” said Miller.

“Melania’s immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it a success,” he added.

This combination of pictures shows Melania Trump (L) and Michelle Obama making speeches.

Democratic National Committee Chairwoman and Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, however, rejected the Republican notion that the controversy was somehow created by the Clinton campaign.

She said the Trump campaign "should be prepared to be held accountable" for the content of its convention.

"The trump organization, whether it’s Paul Manafort or anyone all the way up to Donald Trump himself, any time they are caught red handed, engaging in distortions, inaccuracies, a fact pattern that is clearly not accurate, they blame someone else," Wasserman Schultz said.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk