Melania Trump shares her thoughts on abortion rights in the US
Melania Trump has recently addressed rumors that her upcoming memoir will contain a defense of abortion rights.
In a video posted on social media on Thursday, the former first lady did not explicitly mention abortion but emphasized her belief in individual freedom as a “fundamental principle that I safeguard.”
“There is no compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth – individual freedom,” Mrs. Trump stated.
She concluded the 28-second black and white clip with a promotion for her new book Melania.
Reports suggest the former model is expected to express support for abortion rights in her memoir, marking a public disagreement with her husband Donald’s stance on the issue.
During the presidential election campaign, Mr. Trump faced scrutiny for his views, having previously indicated support for a national ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
His current position advocates for states to determine abortion laws and allow exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s life.
Contrastingly, Mrs. Trump has reportedly argued that women should have the freedom to make decisions about their bodies without government interference.
According to The Guardian, she writes in her memoir, “Denying a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is akin to denying her control over her own body.
“This belief has guided me throughout my adult life,” she added.
In addition, she questions, “Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the authority to decide what she does with her own body?”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Trump in April: Abortion up to US states
This election is the first since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v Wade ruling, which ended a nearly 50-year constitutional right to abortion in the US.
Since then, nearly two dozen US states have banned or limited access to the procedure.
Mr. Trump previously claimed credit for the Supreme Court’s 2022 decision to overturn the ruling, which had protected abortion rights up to approximately 24 to 28 weeks of pregnancy due to judges he appointed during his presidency.
He has also inaccurately asserted that Democrats support abortion after the baby is born.
Read more from Sky News:
Naked Trump statue near Las Vegas ‘deplorable’
How religious beliefs will impact the US election
The rival Democrat campaign views abortion rights as an issue for Kamala Harris to use against the former president.
A spokesperson for the Harris campaign said: “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”.
