WATCH: Melania Trump Impersonator Cribs the Best Words on Colbert
Melania Trump’s clear plagiarism of Michelle Obama's 2008 convention speech has already been roundly mocked by Stephen Colbert, the name behind the hashtag #MelaniaTrumpSpeechQuotes.
But Colbert—who will be giving a daily breakdown of the GOP convention—backed Mrs. Trump, to some degree, on this one.
“Personally, I don’t think Mrs. Trump is at fault at all,” Colbert said. “I think her speechwriters are to blame, and yet, no one has lost their jobs. If only there was someone in the Trump campaign who enjoyed firing people," he joked.
Colbert then insisted he had a close personal friendship with the Trumps and would be giving Melania a chance to tell her side of the story. And he couldn't have found an actress (Laura Benanti) who more closely resembled the nominee's wife.
“My fellow Americans,” Benanti said, as Melania Trump. “This is truly the best of times. It is the worst of times. I did not plagiarize my speech last night. I would never do such a thing. I would not, could not, with a goat, I would not, could not, on a boat."
But quoting "Tale of Two Cities" and "Green Eggs and Ham" wasn't enough.
Benanti, as Mrs. Trump, then insisted her “humble upbringing" would never allow her to steal a speech.
"In west Philadelphia, born and raised, on a playground is where I spent most of my days,” she said, reciting the opening for the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air."
“So, to those who say I stole my speech, I say: Give me a break! Give me a break! Break me off a piece of that Kit-Kat bar! They may be able to take our lives, but they will never take our freedom! I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore! You’ve got to fight for your right to party! Boom goes the dynamite. Hakuna matata. Ba-da-bop-ba-ba, I’m loving it,” she rattled off.
So were we.
Watch:
