BERWYN, Pa. Melania Trump returned from political exile on Thursday by making a rather eyebrow-raising claim: as first lady, she would combat bullying. That anti-bullying campaign, however, likely wouldnt extend to her husband.
Our culture has gotten too mean and too violent, the wife of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump told a crowd here in the suburbs of Philadelphia. It is never OK when a 12-year-old girl or boy is mocked, bullied or attacked. It is terrible when that happens on the playground and it is unacceptable when its done by someone with no name hiding on the internet.
Melania Trump has kept a low profile since it was revealed that parts of her 2016 Republican National Convention address were lifted from Michelle Obamas address to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Since that time, Trump, who was regularly by her husbands side during the Republican primary, has been largely absent.
Her absence made the peculiar focus of her address all the more perplexing. Her husband has become infamous for his bullying both online and in person of virtually anyone who appears to oppose him. In fact, the National Education Association recently began a campaign to raise awareness of a Trump effect, in which children feel emboldened by the candidates behavior to engage in bullying.
Weve seen this already, Melania Trump said Thursday. As adults, many of us are able to handle mean words, even lies. (This very week, a social media campaign, #ImWithTur, has sprung up as a defense of NBC News reporter Katy Tur, whom the Republican nominee singled out for mockery during a speech in Miami on Wednesday.)
Trump also bemoaned that children are often picked on for their looks or intelligence even though her husband frequently attacks people based on those characteristics. Indeed, in addition to his regular comments about others appearances, including broadcasting demeaning things about an opponents spouse , he once joked about a nearby child: Ill be dating her in 10 years. Can you believe it?
Earlier, it appeared that Trump would perhaps address both her husbands behavior and the numerous accusations of sexual misconduct made against him.
During the invocation before the address, Gwenne Alexander, head of Chester County Action, a local Christian organization, beseeched God to grant the crowd and the campaign the kind of grace you showed to David, who was an adulterer and a murderer.
It was a remarkable and politically tantalizing prayer, suggesting Trump intended to discuss her own husbands sexual misconduct, which, by his own admission, includes assault. Indeed, the campaigns description of the event as one where Trump would discuss family, her marriage, the campaign experience and the goals she has as First Lady only served to fuel such speculation.
However, the speech stuck to the boilerplate remarks common to addresses from the spouses of far less controversial politicians. Trump discussed her childhood in her native Slovenia and her rise through the world of modeling and fashion, and praised her husband for being a fighter and for being concerned about Americas economy.
He certainly knows how to shake things up, doesnt he? Trump asked, which elicited laughter from the crowd.
The Trump campaign seemed interested in little more than reintroducing Melania Trump to the public. When The Huffington Post asked campaign manager Kellyanne Conway whether Trump would address the accusations against her husband, Conway replied that the nice thing about the First Amendment is you can ask rude questions, and moved on to inquiries from other reporters.
Attendees at Thursdays rally seemed to share Conways disinterest in the subject, focusing instead on their admiration of the GOP nominees wife and displeasure with Obamas tenure as first lady.
I dont think she should make a big deal out of it, said Patrick McFadden of Chester Heights, Pennsylvania, of the Republican nominees claims about sexual assault and the accusations against him. I think her being here today says a whole lot.
I think shes going to bring a class and dignity that we havent seen in the last eight years, McFadden added. She comes off to me as very honest and very sincere.
She has poise, she has dignity, contended April from Philadelphia, who asked that her last name not be published. One of the things I feel were missing in the White House right now is a sense of respect for the office.
Anybody who would invite Beyonc and an ex-crack dealer doesnt deserve to be first lady, April added, a reference to the regular appearances at the White House by the R&B singer and her husband, rapper Jay Z, who has incorporated his time dealing drugs as a youth into much of his work.
Attendees were also quick to dismiss the controversy surrounding the plagiarized sections of Trumps address to the RNC.
Seriously? exclaimed Jeff Richardson from Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Like, that was an original thought by Michelle Obama? Its not a big deal.
Anna Peron, of Berwyn, said that Trump has shown tremendous grace under pressure amid the various controversies.
I think shes a class act, Peron said. I think shes shown hard work, grit and perseverance.
Huffington Post reporter Eliot Nelsons book, The Beltway Bible: A Totally Serious A-Z Guide to Our No-Good, Corrupt, Incompetent, Terrible, Depressing and Sometimes Hilarious Government , is out now.
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Editors note: Donald Trump regularlyincitespolitical violence and is a
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