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First Lady Melania Trump’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, Va., being copied from words spoken by former First Lady Michelle Obama is an unproven claim. A meme is circulating social media positing that Trump again copied words from Michelle Obama while denouncing violence in Charlottesville. However, that claim is likely a spoof.
Where did this meme originate? On Aug. 12, 2017, Trump publicly responded to violent events that had taken place earlier that day at a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville by tweeting the following. “Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our heart,” Trump wrote. “No good comes from violence.”
Our country encourages freedom of speech, but let’s communicate w/o hate in our hearts. No good comes from violence. #Charlottesville
— Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) August 12, 2017
Trump previously was met with criticism for delivering a speech before the Republican National Convention which included passages identical in content and specific phrasing to an address given before the Democratic National Convention in 2008 by Michelle Obama.
As a result, a good number of spoof items were posted online that played on the idea of various prominent political figures plagiarizing each other’s words.
Now, social media users are debating whether Trump once again stole words from Obama. Shortly after Trump’s Twitter response, an image began circulating online alleging that Trump had likewise taken those words without credit from a comment made by Obama over a year earlier.
However, Snopes is reporting that the above meme is most likely a spoof. While not being able to completely rule out the possibility that Obama might at some time have expressed something like the thought attributed to her here, there is no record of her having done so.
Here are some examples of people discussing the meme on social media.
It’s confusing because they are Michelle Obama’s words pic.twitter.com/wKkVWyfygP
— Linda Gray (@L2610) August 13, 2017
Melania Trump, or her interpreter, just plagiarized Michelle Obama again!!!! Somebody please tell Melaria the meaning of #plagiarism
— esmili (@anneli8012) August 13, 2017
Looks like Melania Trump, is still copying Michelle Obama speech”Melania Trump tweet yesterday,,, was spoke by’Mrs. Obama on 4/16/2016
— Sharon Barefield (@BarefieldSharon) August 13, 2017
@melaniatrump plagiarizes Michelle Obama again yesterday! This woman cannot speak English & has not thoughts in her head other than $. https://t.co/3XIuxPFQou
— Cognitive Fungus Pro (@CognitiveFungus) August 13, 2017
Confusing on many levels, first she’s full of shit given who she’s married to and secondly she needs to STOP PLAGIARIZING Michelle Obama!
— I call My own shots (@callmyownshots) August 13, 2017
Melania Trump plagerized & presented Michelle Obama’s speech! Did they expect her 2 put up w/ it? That appears 2B the assumption 4 @FLOTUS44
— PupTart (@PupTart) August 13, 2017
Rather, the above meme is most likely having fun at an earlier controversy involving Trump and Obama and the current crisis facing the country and President Donald Trump’s administration.
White nationalists had assembled in Charlottesville to vent their frustration against the city’s plans to take down a statue of Confederal Gen. Robert E. Lee. Counter-protesters massed in opposition. A few hours after violent encounters between the two groups, a car drove into a crowd of people peacefully protesting the rally. The driver was later taken into custody.
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What did you think of the meme alleging plagiarism by Trump? Did you believe it or see evidence to support the meme’s claim? Let us know in the comments section.
Photo credit: Disney | ABC Television Group, Flickr