Two days later, we have an explanation.
Melania Trump’s Republican National Convention speech – which, in large parts, copied one given eight years ago by Michelle Obama – invited much criticism and laughter over the last 48 hours.
Not only that, but leading Trump advisor Paul Manafort went as far as to say that anyone suggesting the speech was “cribbed” is “insane”.
Today, it has emerged that this is exactly what has happened. A Trump staffer by the name of Meredith McIver has explained that while preparing the speech with Melania Trump, Trump expressed her fondness for Michelle Obama and “read some passages from Michelle Obama’s speech as examples.”
McIver “wrote them down and later included some of the phrasing in the draft that ultimately became the final speech.”
McIver offered both an apology and her resignation to Trump, who declined, and will keep her on as a staffer. McIver said “Trump told me that people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences.”
Her full statement can be read below:
Meredith McIver statement pic.twitter.com/6bSgp6kKOH
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) July 20, 2016
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