During his Wednesday-evening monologue, late-night funnyman Stephen Colbert skewered the alleged plagiarism in first lady Melania Trump's anti-cyberbullying campaign. The comedian joked about President Donald Trump's previous wives and then riffed, "Is there anything Melania Trump won't steal?"
For the most part, Colbert's comments referenced the launch of the first lady's "Be Best" campaign, an initiative meant to encourage positive online and offline behavior among America's youth. Shortly following the release of a campaign booklet, critics pointed out that significant portions of the text were lifted from Obama-era advice issued by the Federal Trade Commission.
"It turns out, Melania's booklet matches almost entirely, word for word, the FTC's 2014 pamphlet," Colbert said. "Is there any idea Melania won't steal? She already copied two other women by marrying Donald Trump."
He then noted that one of the few updates on the booklet is clipart of a cellphone, which appears to be a newer model.
"Be careful, Melania. You don't want to give Donald any ideas about upgrading to a new model," Colbert joked.
While her approval ratings are higher than her husband's, the fracas caused by lifting the FTC material isn't Trump's first brush with a plagiarism scandal. A speech she gave at the 2016 Republican National Convention was similar to one delivered by former first lady Michelle Obama.
Critics have also lambasted the first lady for a campaign initiative that encourages kindness on social media, with many pointing out that her husband uses social media as a primary method of attacking political opponents.
The White House has pushed back on claims that Melania Trump or her team attempted to crib the FTC document and pass it off as new material.
"Mrs. Trump agreed to add Be Best branding and distribute the booklet in an effort to use her platform to amplify the positive message within," the statement read. "As she said in yesterday's speech, she is going to use Be Best to promote people and organizations to encourage conversation and replication, and helping the FTC distribute this booklet is just one small example."
The FTC also commented on the matter, issuing a written statement that said the commission was "excited" that the first lady had promoted its work.
"We're excited that the first lady is sharing this important information with families across the country," an agency official said.
