By
Gabby Morrongiello (
@Gabriellahope_)
CLEVELAND Melania Trump on Monday night ditched the low profile she kept during her husbands ascendancy to the top of the Republican presidential ticket to make the pitch for his candidacy on the opening night of the partys convention.
Youve all been so kind to my whole family the retired Slovenian model told convention attendees
minutes after her husband made a grand entrance on the stage where he will formally accept the GOP presidential nomination later this week.
I have been with Donald for 18 years and I have been aware of his love for this country since we first met she told the audience in her thick Eastern European accent. He never had a hidden agenda when it comes to his patriotism.
The speech
was soon flagged for stark similarities to Michelle Obamas 2008 speech to the Democratic National Convention.
The controversy surrounding her remarks helped cap off a day that began with a last ditch rebellion by anti-Trump delegates who had tried to push a roll call vote over rules. The effort was successfully put down by party officials but not before the convention floor
erupted in chaos with rival sides attempting to shout over each other.
The episode demonstrated that even as the RNC and the Trump campaign aimed to project the image of unity there still remained dissent from those who object to Trump for views that are unorthodox for a Republican nominee and because they dont view him as a serious candidate for the presidency.
After an early evening recess following the floor drama the convention reconvened for a more traditional convention featuring a prime-time lineup of speakers.
The evenings theme was Make America Safe Again and the goal was to make the case that Trump was better equipped than presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to take the helm of the nation at a time of domestic unrest and global terrorism.
Delegates to the convention were treated to a parade of speakers with military and police background to highlight positions Trump has taken on securing the border fighting Islamic extremism and confronting enemies abroad.
n a raw and emotional speech Pat Smith the mother of a victim of the Benghazi attack directly
blamed Hillary Clinton for her sons death.
She lied to me and then called me a liar Smith said of Clinton. To thunderous applause she added Hillary for prison she deserves to be in stripes.
At another point in the evening former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani gave
a fiery speech hammering Clinton and President Obama for their weak response in the face of Islamic extremist terrorism and defending police officers. He also spoke of his longtime friendship with Trump.
Though the nominee typically doesnt enter the limelight until later on in the convention Trump made a
theatrical entrance to the song We Are the Champions appearing at first as a black silhouette against a white screen before making his way to the lectern to introduce his wife.
In her speech Melania Trump said I can tell you with certainty that my husband has been concerned about our country for as long as I have known him … Donald has a great and deep and unbounding determination and a never give up attitude.
Though she periodically appeared alongside her husband during the primary she often said she prefers to tend to the couples 10-year-old son than traverse the country on the campaign trail.
Nevertheless she sought to assure the packed arena Monday night that both she and Trump are committed to protecting Americans and going to work for the country if they find themselves living in Washington next January.
As the citizens of this great nation it is kindness love and compassion for each other that will bring us together and keep us together she said adding These are the values Donald and I will bring to the White House.
