The Donald Trump campaign can now stop pretending that Melania Trump did not steal portions of her Republican National Convention speech from Michelle Obama.
Because the speechwriter for Melania Trump just admitted this is precisely what happened.
On Monday night, Melania Trump helped open the RNC from Cleveland by talking about her morals and values and how she raises her children.
No one took issue with the content of Trump’s speech…
… but many people immediately noticed that it echoed the words spoken by Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention in 2008.
Like, really, really echoed those words.
Like, she used the same exact words for two full paragraphs.
In response to the charges of plagiarism, surrogates for the Donald Trump campaign released numerous statements; some acknowledging that Melania stole portions of her speech and others scoffing at this notion.
But now Meredith McIver – described as “an in-house staff writer from the Trump Organization” – has come out and taken responsibility for the incident.
In a statement released by the campaign on Wednesday, McIver, says that Donald Trump’s wife, in a phone call, read her “passages from Mrs. Obama’s speech as examples” of inspiration for her own address at the RNC.
“I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech,” McIver admits, referring to the first lady as “a person [Melania] has always liked.”
McIver added:
“I did not check Mrs. Obama’s speeches. This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs. Obama.”
This is really all that needed to be said as soon as the speech concluded.
No one really cares what Melania Trump has to say.
But the plagiarism, along with the ridiculous excuses uttered by Trump representatives, have been seen as examples of a campaign that is not very well run or organized.
McIver added that she offered her resignation to the nominee’s family but they “rejected it,” referred to the incident an “innocent mistake.”
Here is McIver’s full statement:
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
My name is Meredith Mciver and I’m an in-house staff writer at the Trump Organization. I am also a longtime friend and admirer of the Trump family.
In working with Melania Trump on her recent First Lady speech, we discussed many people who inspired her and messages she wanted to share with the American people.
A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama. Over the phone, she read me some passages from Mrs. Obama’s speech as examples. I wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech.
I did not check Mrs. Obama’s speeches.
This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs. Obama. No harm was meant.
Yesterday, I offered my resignation to Mr. Trump and the Trump family, but they rejected it. Mr. Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences.
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 beautiful message and presentation.
I apologize for the confusion and hysteria my mistake has caused. Today, more than ever, I am honored to work for such a great family. I personally admire the way Mr. Trump has handled this situation and I am grateful for his understanding.
