Former First Lady Melania Trump has sparked controversy within the pro-life community after expressing her pro-abortion stance in her upcoming memoir and a video message on X.
Her memoir, titled “Melania,” is scheduled for release on October 8, just a month before the election. In the book, she discusses various aspects of her life, including her family and time in the White House, as well as her support for legal abortion. Excerpts shared by The Guardian include her assertion that women should have the autonomy to make decisions regarding childbirth free from government influence.
Melania Trump articulates, “It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions,” emphasizing that a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy is a matter of individual liberty. She further asserts that restricting this right is equivalent to undermining a woman’s control over her own body, a belief she states has been with her throughout her adult life.
On Thursday, she reaffirmed her views in a video shared on X, stating, “Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom.”
Her husband, former President Donald Trump, addressed the situation without directly endorsing or rejecting her statements. In an interview, he said he encouraged her to express her true beliefs, emphasizing the importance of “going with your heart” while acknowledging there are varying perspectives within the party on the issue of abortion.
Responses from pro-life advocates have been largely critical of Melania Trump’s comments. Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed concern regarding the message sent to voters, prioritizing defeating Kamala Harris and the Democrats’ abortion agenda while lamenting that women facing unplanned pregnancies need resources rather than more abortions.
Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life Action, criticized Melania Trump for promoting a view she claims pits women against their own bodies, asserting that pregnancy involves two lives, not just one.
Some activists are directing their frustrations towards Donald Trump’s campaign strategy, arguing that Melania Trump’s remarks suggest a shift away from pro-life values. Lila Rose, president of Live Action, went so far as to equate her position with that of Harris on abortion, while Robert P. George, a legal scholar, indicated that her comments were a calculated move to attract pro-abortion voters.
As the election approaches, debate over abortion continues to divide candidates and their supporters. Donald Trump, who appointed three Supreme Court justices that contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, has sought to moderate the Republican stance on abortion. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris supports a federal law for legal abortion before viability and has not indicated her position on late-term abortion restrictions.