By now, almost everyone has heard about what took place at the Republican National Convention on Monday, July 18. In case you live under a rock and haven’t heard yet, Donald Trump's wife, Melenia Trump, delivered a speech aiming to support her husband and portray him in a “softer light,” something that is absolutely necessary after he has openly stood for racism, sexism and homophobia. Melenia has spent the majority of her career as a fashion model and has absolutely no political experience (fashion models aren’t exactly known for their intelligence, eloquence, or political experience). The speech was very well written and made Melenia appear to have not only a vast knowledge of politics, but a deep passion for the importance of respect—which is ironic considering her husband is one of the most disrespectful people in influential American history. This, of course, raised some suspicions about the origins of Mrs. Trump's speech. After she continued the speech, listeners seemed to notice it sounded identical to Michelle Obama's speech, delivered at the 2008 Democratic Convention.
Although Melenia chose to steal from Michelle Obama’s speech, there are many other famous speeches in American history she could have chosen from. Here are four other influential speeches in America which she could have chosen from:
1. “I have a dream that one day my children will be judged not by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” Martin Luther King's “I have a Dream.”
Throughout his campaign, one of Trump's favorite things to do has been to play the victim card, and pretend like he, a white, rich, man, understands the feeling of discrimination. He also loves to pretend that minorities are a threat to white people. “It’s very clear that black men are a threat to white people and police officers” he once stated in an interview with CNN. Now, I know what you’re all thinking: Trump’s children have had to deal with the many trials and tribulations that come with being white. They could have been forced to deal with equal opportunity employment, or had to sit next to a minority in school. Maybe they were labeled as privileged? Wait, their father is a billionaire. Or, they may have even been called a “cracker.” What could possibly be more heartbreaking than being called a snack?
2. “It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.” Abraham Lincoln's “The Gettysburg Address.”
Donald Trump's famous campaign slogan is “Make America Great Again.” Throughout her speech, Melenia Trump made several reference to this slogan. “Make America Great Again” implies turning America back into its shape in the 1800’s, when Abraham Lincoln gave this address. Melenia Trump could have easily used this quote in her speech, applied it to Trump's candidacy, and claimed it was “original.” This is ironic, however, because this speech was dedicated to ending slavery, a severe form of racism, which Trump has shown favor of.
3. “We have come together here because the American people deserve better from those to whom they entrust our nation's highest offices” Ronald Reagan's 1989 Republican National Convention speech.
Melenia Trump seems to genuinely believe her racist, misogynistic husband would actually make a decent presidential candidate. Melenia could have incorporated Regan's words into her own speech, claiming they apply to her husband and his effort to somehow make America better by only supporting white, rich, males.
The speeches above are three of the most famous, influential speeches in American history. Melenia Trump's plagiarism of Michelle Obama's speech was not only sickening and wrong, but it was quiet hilarious, considering the fact that she barely even bothered to change a few words. These speeches, all written by men who have done very positive things for our country, could have just as easily been used by Melenia, a fashion model, who clearly knows nothing about politics.
