Donald and Melania Trump divided on key US election issue?
Photo credit: Marie Uzcategui for AFP.
Melania Trump, the former First Lady and wife of former President Donald Trump, has voiced strong support for abortion rights in her upcoming memoir, according to The Guardian. Her remarks appear to stand in stark contrast to her husband’s position, as he campaigns for the Republican presidential nomination.
In her memoir titled Melania, the 54-year-old former fashion model emphasized the importance of ensuring that women have the autonomy to make decisions about childbearing based on their personal convictions, free from governmental intervention. She wrote, “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,” as reported by the British publication.
Abortion is expected to be a pivotal issue in the upcoming presidential election on November 5, with polls indicating that Trump’s Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, holds a significant lead among voters on the topic, as noted by AFP. While Melania advocates for states to have the authority to set their own abortion restrictions, her husband may not align with her views.
Donald Trump has frequently boasted on the campaign trail about how his three Supreme Court appointees played a critical role in the 2022 decision to overturn the national right to abortion. Following this ruling, at least 20 states have enacted full or partial restrictions, with Georgia imposing a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
In her memoir, Melania challenges the idea that anyone but the woman herself should have the power to decide what to do with her own body. She reportedly wrote, “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 continued, “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.”
The Guardian stated it had accessed a copy of the memoir ahead of its publication, which is set for next Tuesday. Melania’s strong stance on this contentious issue raises questions about the dynamics within the Trump family as they navigate differing views on abortion rights, a topic that continues to be at the forefront of political discourse in the United States. As the election approaches, her views may influence public perception of the Trump campaign and the Republican Party’s position on women’s rights.
