A staffer working for the Trump Organization has apologized and offered to resign over Melania Trump’s plagiarized Monday night speech at the Republican National Convention.
Meredith McIver, a writer for Trump, said in a letter Wednesday that Melania had read passages from Michelle Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention Speech, telling McIver over the phone that “as a person,” she had always admired the First Lady. McIver said she wrote the passages down, and failed to check them against Obama’s prior speeches for potential plagiarism.
She offered her resignation Tuesday, though it was rejected by the Trump family. McIver said the GOP presidential nominee told her “people make innocent mistakes and that we learn and grow from these experiences.”
“I feel terrible for the chaos I have caused Melania and the Trumps, as well as to Mrs. Obama,” McIver said in the letter. “No harm was meant.”
More Must-Reads From TIME
- The 100 Most Influential People of 2024
- Coco Gauff Is Playing for Herself Now
- Scenes From Pro-Palestinian Encampments Across U.S. Universities
- 6 Compliments That Land Every Time
- If You're Dating Right Now , You're Brave: Column
- The AI That Could Heal a Divided Internet
- Fallout Is a Brilliant Model for the Future of Video Game Adaptations
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com