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Home / World

Who said it, Melania Trump or Michelle Obama?

Francis Cook
By Francis Cook
Homepage Editor·NZ Herald·
19 Jul, 2016 04:47 AM3 mins to read

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Melania Trump's speech has sparked controversy for being too similar to Michelle Obama's speech eight years ago. Photo / Getty Images

Melania Trump's speech has sparked controversy for being too similar to Michelle Obama's speech eight years ago. Photo / Getty Images

Statement on Melania Trump Speech pic.twitter.com/80KgS0jxXz

— MELANIA TRUMP (@MELANIATRUMP) July 19, 2016

Melania Trump was the highpoint of the evening at the opening day of the Republican National Convention, emphasising a positive message of hope rather than attacking Hillary or shouting "radical Islam" over and over. However, it may have been borrowed from another First Lady, Michelle Obama.

The segments which are turning heads and headlines

Melania Trump, Monday night:

"From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise, that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily lives. That is a lesson that I continue to pass along to our son. And we need to pass those lessons on to the many generations to follow. Because we want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

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Michelle Obama, in 2008:

"Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them. And Barack and I set out to build lives guided by these values, and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children - and all children in this nation - to know that the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them.

Melania Trump:

"I was born in Slovenia, a small, beautiful and then-communist country in Central Europe. My sister, Ines, who is an incredible woman and a friend, and I were raised by my wonderful parents. My elegant and hardworking mother, Amalija, introduced me to fashion and beauty. My father, Viktor, instilled in me a passion for business and travel. Their integrity, compassion and intelligence reflects to this day on me and for my love of family and America."

Michelle Obama in 2008:

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"And I come here as a daughter - raised on the South Side of Chicago by a father who was a blue-collar city worker and a mother who stayed at home with my brother and me. My mother's love has always been a sustaining force for our family, and one of my greatest joys is seeing her integrity, her compassion and her intelligence reflected in my own daughters."

Worst still; Mrs. Trump may have always quoted lyrics the lyrics to Rick Astley's "Never gonna give you up".

The lines in question: "He will never, ever give up. And, most importantly, he will never, ever, let you down."

It's unclear at this stage whether Melania's speech was written with short notice or if the speechwriter just trolled the Republican National Convention - but one thing is certain: it's very much in-tune with the circus act of the Trump ticket.

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