Former First Lady Melania Trump has voiced strong support for abortion rights in her memoir, “Melania,” marking a significant departure from her husband Donald Trump’s stance and the Republican Party’s position on the issue.
In the memoir, she argues that women should have complete autonomy over their reproductive choices, stating, “It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government.”
The former First Lady outlines several circumstances she considers legitimate reasons for abortion, including risk to the mother’s life, cases of rape or incest, and instances of severe fetal abnormalities. She also defends access to late-term abortions in specific medical situations, noting these procedures are historically rare and typically occur due to severe medical complications.
“Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” Melania Trump writes in the memoir.
Her position stands in stark contrast to that of former President Donald Trump, who has celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and has advocated for more restrictive abortion policies. The former president has recently struggled to maintain a consistent message on abortion rights during his 2024 presidential campaign, facing criticism from social conservatives for removing anti-abortion language from the Republican platform.
Donald Trump reacted to her stance with an unusual degree of support, stating that he told her to “write what you believe” and encouraged her to “go with your heart.” This reaction reflects Trump’s decision not to influence his wife’s views despite his longstanding anti-abortion platform.
While supporting abortion rights broadly, Melania Trump does advocate for some restrictions, including requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions. She emphasizes the need to provide women facing unexpected pregnancies with “knowledge, security, and solace.”
The timing of these revelations, coming just weeks before a major election, could potentially impact the political landscape, particularly as Republicans have sought to avoid extensive discussion of abortion rights in their campaigns.
