Melania Trump reveals pro-abortion rights stance in new memoir: Report
Melania Trump, the wife of former President Donald Trump, is criticizing restrictions on reproductive rights, including limits on abortion, in her new memoir, "Melania," according to a new report and video she posted on social media Wednesday morning.
"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," Melania Trump writes in her upcoming book, according to a report Wednesday from the Guardian.
In a position at odds with much of the Republican Party, Melania Trump reportedly argues that the decision to terminate a pregnancy should be a decision left between a woman and her doctor, calling it "the common-sense approach."
"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," she reportedly writes in the memoir set for release next week.
"Restricting a woman's right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life," she reportedly says in the pages of "Melania."
Purported excerpts of Melania Trump's forthcoming book were published by the Guardian Wednesday but not independently verified by ABC News. A spokesperson for Melania Trump and the Trump campaign have not responded to requests from ABC News.
But Donald Trump told FOX News that he and his wife had spoken about it before. "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,” he said.
“But I said you have to stick with your heart. I've said that to everybody. You have to go with your heart," Donald Trump said. "There are some people that are very, very far right in the issue, meaning without exceptions. And then there are other people that review it a little bit differently than that.”
In a video posted on her X account Wednesday morning, Melania Trump defended women's freedom to do what they want with their body, appearing to confirm reported excerpts in her memoir for the first time.
"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. What does 'my body, my choice' really mean?" she said in the video.
Melania Trump also addresses late-term abortions in the book, according to the excerpts.
"It is important to note that historically, most abortions conducted during the later stages of pregnancy were the result of severe fetal abnormalities that probably would have led to the death or stillbirth of the child. Perhaps even the death of the mother. These cases were extremely rare and typically occurred after several consultations between the woman and her doctor. As a community, we should embrace these common-sense standards. Again, timing matters," she reportedly writes.
Those comments offer a stark contrast to narratives Donald Trump has pushed around the issue, falsely claiming that Democrats support abortion "after birth." Infanticide is illegal in all 50 states.
According to the report, Melania Trump then goes on to further ask for compassion for women who decide to terminate a pregnancy, detailing the hardships that surround making the decision and stressing the importance of "knowledge, security, and solace" for the next generation.
"When confronted with an unexpected pregnancy, young women frequently experience feelings of isolation and significant stress. I, like most Americans, am in favor of the requirement that juveniles obtain parental consent before undergoing an abortion. I realize this may not always be possible. Our next generation must be provided with knowledge, security, safety, and solace, and the cultural stigma associated with abortion must be lifted," the former first lady reportedly writes.
Melania Trump's reported comments come as husband Donald Trump has, at times, stumbled when answering complex questions on the campaign trail about his position on abortion rights and what reproductive care he would or wouldn't protect. After being instrumental in the Supreme Court's overruling of Roe vs. Wade, the former president has advocated for certain abortion exceptions and has said he wouldn't sign a federal abortion ban.
During campaign rallies, Donald Trump has touted his abortion policy, calling himself "the most pro-life president in American history." He has also celebrated his appointment of three U.S. Supreme Court justices who helped overrule Roe vs. Wade.
Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika said Melania Trump's position still means that Donald Trump could threaten women's reproductive rights if he becomes president.
"Sadly for the women across America, Mrs. Trump's husband firmly disagrees with her and is the reason that more than one in three American women live under a Trump Abortion Ban that threatens their health, their freedom, and their lives," Chitika said in a statement.
As Sen. JD Vance and Gov. Tim Walz sparred over Trump's policies on reproductive rights at Tuesday night's vice presidential debate, the former president reiterated his position that the decision on abortion is where people wanted it -- with the states, writing on his social media platform that he would not support a federal abortion ban "under any circumstances, and would, in fact, veto it."
Abortion remains a top issue for voters -- especially women -- in the upcoming election. Both Trump and Harris are working to connect with voters on the topic in what's expected to be a close contest in November.
According to the Guardian, Melania Trump, an immigrant herself, also addresses immigration in her book. But she writes that she likes to keep "occasional political disagreements" private.
Donald Trump recently promoted his wife's book at his rally in Uniondale, New York, though he suggested he hadn't actually read it.
"First lady, people love our first lady out there. Go out and get her book," Donald Trump said to cheers. "She just wrote a book. I hope she said good things about ... She just wrote a book called 'Melania.' Go out and buy it. It's great. And if she says bad things about me, I'll call you all up, and I'll say, don't buy it."
