CLEVELAND, OHIO–Republican nominee Donald Trump won’t accept the resignation of Meredith McIver, a staff writer for the Trump Organization who helped draft Melania Trump’s address to the Republican National Convention.
McIver issued a statement saying she feels horrible for the allegations of plagiarism from the media after reports surfaced that Melania’s speech was very similar to Michelle Obama’s address at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
“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,” McIver explained.
I wrote them down and alter 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,” she added.