The Trump campaign issued this letter earlier this morning:

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A few thoughts...

1. Good for her for owning her mistake and fessing up to it. It's not easy to do that. The cascade of implausible denials in the first 24 hours after the speech suggested it would never happen. Remember what we were first told? Here was the entire explanation from campaign communications advisor Jason Miller:

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.

2. It's surprising to learn about Melania that "A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama." Given Trump's status as the most prominent birther in the United states, I doubt it's true, and I bet it's just buttering up Michelle Obama in lieu of an apology, which Trump himself said this morning is not coming.

3. On the one hand, "A person she has always liked is Michelle Obama" seems like something that would be off-putting to Trump loyalists. Off brand. Sad! On the other hand, Trump loyalists don't know how to read, so burying the statement in a piece of writing is, like, brilliant.

4. Trump's always got a cliche at the ready to explain anything away:


5. As Emily Nussbaum points out, by McIver's explanation above, Melania knew the speech was plagiarized. "So, basically: Melania admires Michelle Obama & is the one who looked up those lines & knew they were copied."

6. Interesting point:


7. The New York Daily News apparently seems to think she's a real person. According to their reporting, she's 65 years old and is a registered Democrat.

8. Another interesting point:


9. Also, this is weird:


See the fitness instructor's identical photo and non-identical name here.

10. In conclusion, THIS is the most important thing of all.