Melania Trump says Donald will represent “all the people”

Ben Sales

CLEVELAND (JTA) — Speaking at the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump’s wife Melania Trump said her husband does not discriminate based on race or religion.

Her speech, which came following a night of attacks on the Obama administration’s domestic and military record, seemed to aim for a more positive note in an often pugnacious campaign. In the speech, Trump briefly recounted her life story and praised her husband as generous and caring.

Near the end of the speech, she said Trump would work toward prosperity for all Americans, regardless of race, religion or class. The line was an implicit response to accusations that Trump is bigoted against minorities, something he denies.

“Donald intends to represent all the people, not just some of the people,” she said. “That includes Christians and Jews and Muslims, Hispanics and African-Americans, and the poor and the middle class. Throughout his career, Donald has successfully worked with people of many faiths and of many nations.”

Before Trump’s speech, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani addressed the crowd, defending Trump’s character and policies. In his speech, he called last year’s accord limiting Iran’s nuclear program “one of the worst deals America ever made” because “it will allow them to become a nuclear power.”

Giuliani also said the United States and its allies had been hit by five major terror attacks in the past seven months. The tally presumably did not include Israel, which has experienced a string of terror attacks dating back to last year.