Melania Trump's Republican Convention speech has drawn unfavourable comparisons with Michelle Obama's address in 2008, with some accusing Donald Trump's wife of plagiarism.

Introduced by her husband on the first day of the convention, Mrs Trump spoke about working hard and keeping your word – using exactly the same phrases as Mrs Obama had done eight years earlier.

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In her speech, Mrs Trump said: "From a young age, my parents impressed on me the values that you work hard for what you want in life: that your word is your bond and you do what you say and keep your promise; that you treat people with respect. They taught and showed me values and morals in their daily life."

In 2008, Mrs Obama addressed the Democrat Convention while her husband was on the campaign trail, stating: "Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don't know them, and even if you don't agree with them," a CNN transcript said.

Mrs Obama had added: "We want our children and all children in this nation to know the only limit to the height of your achievements is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work hard for them."

Which was also similar to Mrs Trump's next line: "We want our children in this nation to know that the only limit to your achievements is the strength of your dreams and your willingness to work for them."

Although it was suggested that Mrs Trump had simply ended up using the same speech-writer as Mrs Obama, Mrs Trump claimed she had written the speech herself "with as little help as possible", while a former speech-writer for Barack Obama claimed the First Lady had come up with that part of her 2008 speech by herself.

Mrs Trump's team released a statement about the speech, referencing the inspirations behind it, but did not directly address the accusations.

In the statement, Mrs Trump's senior communications advisor Jason Miller said: "In writing her beautiful speech, Melania's team of writers took notes on her life's inspirations, and in some instances included fragments that reflected her own thinking.

"Melania's immigrant experience and love for America shone through in her speech, which made it such a success."

Mrs Trump has been criticised on Twitter following the speech, with many mocking her claims she wrote it herself, ad #famousMelaniaTrumpquotes trending on Twitter.

The speech came towards the end of the first day of the convention, with seats clearing out almost as soon as Mrs Trump had finished speaking, despite several other names on the bill yet to take the stage.

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