Donald Trump's wife 'plagiarizes' First Lady Michelle Obama's speech

Melania Trump was accused of stealing ideas from First Lady Michelle Obama when she gave her first major speech introducing herself at the Republican convention.

Mrs. Melania speaks at the Republican convention in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday. Photo: Reuters.

The 46-year-old former model appeared on stage with her husband, presidential candidate Donald Trump, on July 18 and praised his strength as a husband, father and potential leader of the United States.

However, Mrs. Melania's speech was found to have many similarities with Mrs. Michelle's speech at the 2008 Democratic convention about her husband, Mr. Barack Obama.

According to AFP, a passage in which she describes the values ​​that have shaped her life is almost exactly the same as what Michelle said eight years ago.

"My parents instilled in me the values ​​that you work hard to get what you want in life, that your word is your bond, that you do what you say you will do and keep your promises, that you treat people with respect. They taught me to demonstrate those values ​​and ethics in my everyday life. That's a lesson I continue to pass on to my son," Melania said. "And we need to pass those lessons on to the next generation. Because we want our children in this country to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work hard to achieve them."

In her speech, Michelle said: "Barack and I were raised with many of the same values: work hard for what you want, your word is your bond and do what you say you're going to do, treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them and even if you don't agree with them. Barack and I plan to build our lives on these values ​​and pass them on to the next generation. Because we want our children and all children in this country to know that the only limit to what you can achieve is your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

Melania Trump's speech was the highlight of the chaotic opening day of the Republican convention. Trump is expected to be formally nominated as the presidential candidate at the event, which runs through the weekend.

Donald Trump and his wife at the Republican convention in Cleveland, Ohio yesterday. Photo: AP.

The billionaire personally introduced his wife to delegates, breaking with party tradition by appearing before being formally nominated.

"It was truly an honor to introduce my wife, Melania. Her speech and gestures were unbelievable. Very proud!", Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter after the event, before his wife was exposed for "plagiarism".

Melania Trump caused a stir in March when a revealing photo of her for GQ magazine was resurfaced. Trump responded by splicing a photo of Senator Ted Cruz’s wife grimacing with a charming photo of his own wife.

If he wins the election later this year, Melania will be the only first lady to be the third wife of a president. She was born in 1970 in the sleepy southeastern industrial town of Sevnica, Slovenia. Her father was a car salesman and her mother worked in a textile factory. The family lived in an apartment building overlooking the river and factory chimneys.

She changed her life as a model when she was discovered by a photographer. At the age of 16, she traveled to Milan and Paris to pursue her modeling career. She changed her name to Melania Knauss and settled in New York in 1996. Two years later, she met her future husband at a party in Manhattan.

According to VNE