The Gulf Time Newspaper One of the finest business newspapers in the UAE brought to you by our professional writers and editors.
Cleveland / AFP
Donald Trump faced an embarrassing plagiarism scandal on Tuesday that tarnished his wife Melania’s prime-time speech to a Republican National Convention already roiled by an opening day rank-and-file revolt.
It was a rough start to the four-day political jamboree, which was designed to crown Trump as the presidential nominee and catapult the party toward November’s elections.
With millions watching on TV at home, Melania Trump delivered a heartfelt defense of her husband and his bid to be the next president of the US before thousands of rapt convention delegates.
But unmistakable similarities in remarks about her guiding values and a speech given by Michelle Obama at the 2008 Democratic convention soon came to light.
A senior Trump communications adviser, Jason Miller, acknowledged in a statement that Melania Trump’s team of writers “in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.â€
Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign chief, denied there was any “cribbing of Michelle Obama’s speech†and the candidate himself came out in her defense.
“It was truly an honor to introduce my wife, Melania. Her speech and demeanor were absolutely incredible. Very proud!†he tweeted.
The kerfuffle came after a chaotic start to the Republican gathering in Cleveland, which erupted in jeers from Trump opponents determined to express their unease about the 70-year-old billionaire businessman.
“We deserve to be heard, this is the people’s convention!†said Diana Shores, a delegate from Virginia, while pro-Trump delegates tried to drown out the rebels with shouts of “Shame! Shame!â€
The convention holds a state-by-state roll call vote, with each delegation confirming the winner in their primary election.
Trump fans insist delegates must heed the will of the grassroots of the party and make him the Republican nominee without
equivocation.
The real estate mogul won a thumping victory in a series of statewide party elections, garnering more than 13 million votes — the most of any Republican nominee ever.