Former First Lady Melania Trump has faced backlash from the pro-life community after expressing her pro-abortion stance in her upcoming memoir and a video message on social media platform X.
Her memoir, titled “Melania,” is set to be released on October 8, just a month ahead of the Election Day. In it, Trump discusses her life, family, time in the White House, and briefly touches on her support for legal abortion. Excerpts from the book were revealed by The Guardian.
Melania Trump writes, “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 emphasizes the importance of a woman’s right to choose, stating that it is a fundamental aspect of individual liberty. “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 asserts, adding that this belief has been with her throughout her adult life.
On Thursday, Melania reiterated her views in a video on X, promoting her memoir. She stated, “Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom.”
Former President Donald Trump commented on his wife’s remarks, maintaining neutrality. He said, “We spoke about it and I said, ‘You have to write what you believe.’ I’ve said that to everybody: ‘You have to go with your heart.’”
The pro-life movement has reacted strongly to Melania’s statements. Leaders like Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, acknowledged the importance of defeating Kamala Harris but criticized Melania’s comments, asserting that women facing unplanned pregnancies need more resources rather than more abortions.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, expressed disappointment, stating, “Melania Trump had a chance to inspire in her book but, instead, chose to push broken feminism that puts women at war with their own bodies.”
Some pro-life advocates have voiced harsher critiques, suggesting that Melania and Harris have similar views on abortion. Legal scholar Robert P. George proposed that her comments may have been directed by Donald Trump’s campaign to appeal to pro-abortion voters.
During his 2024 campaign, Donald Trump has attempted to balance the Republican Party’s approach to abortion, seeking to maintain support from pro-life voters while attracting moderates. He recently stated he would veto any laws that would ban abortion, reinforcing that states should decide based on voters’ will.
In contrast, Kamala Harris advocates for federal legislation to legalize abortion nationwide until the point of viability, around 23 or 24 weeks, while Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed bills that strengthen state laws permitting abortion throughout pregnancy for various reasons.