Melania Trump addresses Day 1 of Republican Convention

Updated: Tuesday, July 19, 2016, 12:20 [IST]

Cleveland, July 19: Melania Trump, wife of presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and a former model, made a 15-minute speech on the inaugural day of the party's convention here on Monday (July 18).

Melania, a Slovene by birth who became a naturalised citizen of the US a decade ago after reaching there in 1996, praised her husband as someone who "knows how to win", "get things done" and is "ready to lead the great nation". [Melania Trump plagiarised Michelle Obama's speech: Report]

Forty-six-year-old Melania dicussed her growing up in Slovenia, her modelling career and other business interests and the process whereby she became a naturalised US citizen. She also threw light on her life with the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. [Over 100 women pose nude to protest against Trump ahead of Cleveland Convention]

"If you want someone to fight for you and your country, I can assure you: He is the guy," Melania said, adding: "He will never, ever give up, and most assuredly he will never, ever let you down."

Melania, who will become only the second first lady to be born outside the US if Donald Trump goes on to win this presidential election after Louisa Adams, the wife of sixth American president John Quincy Adams.

Melania said she would focus on needy women and children as well as education.Pledging to help uniting the country and the world, Melania said her husband would work for all---be it Christians, Jews, Muslims, African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and also the poor. She asserted that the New York tycoon sought to represent all, as against the dominant perception that the man is divisive by nature.

The former model also paid special tribute to former Kansas senator Bob Dole, who ran as the Republican presidential nominee in 1996, on the occasion.

Melania's speech was followed by speeches by other speakers. However, other nominees who were in tha race against Donald Trump but eventually lost out, did not attend the convention.

Earlier, Trump briefly introduced his wife to the audience, welcoming her as "the next first lady of the United States".