Former first lady Melania Trump supports a woman’s right to choose whether to have an abortion “without pressure from the government,” according to excerpts from her upcoming memoir.
Mrs. Trump also posted Thursday a message on social media that underscores her pro-choice stance.
Her position is notable, given that her husband, former President Donald Trump, appointed the Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade and the national right to abortion in 2022.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes,” Mrs. Trump writes in her upcoming memoir, according to excerpts obtained by The Guardian.
“Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she says in the book. “I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.”
Mrs. Trump’s public stance is remarkable for several reasons. She is relatively private and rarely speaks out on political issues, and abortion is a central issue in her husband’s campaign to retake the White House.
Democrats are repeatedly pointing to state limits on abortion in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling and Mr. Trump’s role in appointing conservative justices.
Mr. Trump, the Republican nominee, often takes credit for putting the abortion question in the hands of states through the court’s decision. It’s an effort to court pro-life voters who are essential to his coalition.
At the same time, Mr. Trump has tried to walk a fine line on abortion limits, which could be a drag on his broader appeal. He insists the issue should be up to individual states and says he would not sign a nationwide ban.
It remains to be seen whether Mrs. Trump’s public stance softens the edges around Mr. Trump on the issue or hurts his campaign by putting off pro-life supporters.
Mrs. Trump underscored her stance in a somewhat cryptic post on X that serves as a teaser for her memoir, “Melania,” which will be released this fall.
“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth — individual freedom,” Mrs. Trump says in the video. “What does, ’My body, my choice,’ really mean?’”
The Washington Times reached out to Mrs. Trump’s press team for comment on her decision to lean into the issue during the campaign.
Her stance is already making waves online. Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump communications aide-turned-critic, said Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, will use the material against Mr. Trump before Election Day.
“Melania Trump coming to a Kamala Harris ad near you!” Ms. Griffin posted on X.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.