Jimmy Williams
Melania Trump made a rare political statement Thursday, revealing her support for abortion rights ahead of the release of her memoir. In doing so, the former first lady set herself apart from her husband, Donald Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, on a pivotal issue in the 2024 election.
In a video posted on her X account, Melania Trump defended women’s “individual freedoms” to make choices regarding their bodies, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding those rights. Her stance stands in sharp contrast to the Republican Party and Donald Trump, who has taken credit for appointing three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade.
“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard,” Melania Trump stated in the video. “Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom. What does ‘my body, my choice’ really mean?”
Excerpts of her memoir, set for release next Tuesday, were shared by The Guardian a day earlier, where she expressed that abortion decisions should remain between a woman and her doctor, “free from any government pressure.”
Her position diverges from her husband’s. Donald Trump, who praised the Supreme Court’s decision to return abortion rights to the states, has faced criticism from both anti-abortion supporters in his base and abortion rights advocates. Melania Trump, however, wrote in her memoir that, “a woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”
Speaking with Fox News Thursday, Donald Trump commented, “We spoke about it. And I said, you have to write what you believe. I’m not going to tell you what to do. You have to write what you believe.”
The memoir also touches on late-term abortion, with Melania Trump defending abortions performed due to severe fetal abnormalities or threats to the mother’s life. “These cases are extremely rare and typically occur after several consultations between the woman and her doctor,” she wrote.
Melania’s comments sharply contrast with Donald Trump’s misinformation about late-term abortions, which he has falsely claimed are akin to “infanticide.” This difference has drawn attention from across the political spectrum.
Planned Parenthood Action Fund President Alexis McGill Johnson was skeptical, calling the timing of Melania’s book an election ploy: “Melania stood by him, never once publicly disavowing his actions… weeks before an election where our bodies are again on the ballot.”
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign took the opportunity to highlight Trump’s role in ending Roe v. Wade. “Donald Trump has made it abundantly clear: If he wins in November, he will ban abortion nationwide,” Harris campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said.
With the election drawing near, Melania Trump’s memoir and her candid views on abortion are sure to make waves, potentially influencing voters as they weigh one of the most critical issues of the campaign.