Former first lady Melania Trump on Sunday defended her views on abortion, which she outlines in a forthcoming memoir and which appear to be at odds with those of her husband, former President Donald Trump.
“[Donald Trump] knew my position and my beliefs since the day we met. And I believe in individual freedom. I want to decide for myself what I want to do with my body. I guess I don’t want government in my personal business,” Melania Trump told Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo in a pre-recorded interview that aired Sunday.
Her comments come days after The Guardian published excerpts from her book in which she wrote: ‘It is imperative to ensure that women have autonomy in deciding their preference for childbearing, based on their own beliefs, free from any government intervention or pressure. .”
“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 to individual freedom over her own life gives her the power to terminate her pregnancy if she so chooses,” she added in the upcoming memoir, “Melania.”
The former first lady also expressed her thoughts in a promotional video for the book posted on X last week.
“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I protect. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth,” Melania Trump said in the video.
“Individual freedom. What does ‘my body, my choice’ actually mean?” she added.
Last week — about a month before Election Day — marked the first time the former first lady publicly shared her views on abortion, an especially salient issue heading into November, as Democrats try to portray Donald Trump as someone who would try to ban abortion if he didn’t. chosen.
In Sunday’s interview, Melania Trump addressed questions she faced after making her views public so close to the election, telling Bartimo, “Well, that wasn’t written in the last week or the last month. … That book was written months earlier and appeared in print months earlier. So that was my belief, and it is my belief, and I wanted to put it in the book because I want to be authentic.
When asked by Bartiromo if she was concerned that voters would change their opinion of her husband because of her views, the former first lady said, “I’m not concerned. Everyone has to decide what he or she wants to do.”
The former first lady said Donald Trump “knew” her position would be in the book, adding, “He lets me be who I am, and he lets me believe what I believe.” He lets me be my own person. And he respects that, and I respect that because I let him be his own person. He has different beliefs and he will do what he believes in.”
Melania Trump’s comments echoed her husband’s comments to Fox News on Thursday, in which he said: “We talked about it and 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. ”
“She is very loved,” he added. “People love our former first lady, I can tell you that, but I said, ‘You have to stick to your heart.’ I told everyone: ‘You have to go with your heart.’
Earlier this week, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that he would veto an abortion ban if anyone came across his desk as president. The former president’s views on this issue have continually evolved.
In May 2023, Trump celebrated the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, writing in a social media post: “After 50 years of failure, with no one even coming close, I could see Roe v. Wade murder, much to the annoyance ‘shock’ of everyone.”
And while president, Trump called on the Senate to approve a 20-week limit on abortions, which had already been passed by the House of Representatives.
Earlier this year, the former president flirted with a 15-week federal abortion limit. “The number of weeks now – people agree on fifteen, and I think in terms of that, and it will work out to something that is very reasonable. But people really agree – even hardliners agree – it seems like 15 weeks is a number that people agree on,” he said in a WABC radio interview.
And in August, Trump told NBC News that Florida’s six-week abortion ban, which was signed into law by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, is “too short.” Trump added: “There has to be more time.”
Days later, he clarified that he would vote against a ballot initiative in Florida this year that would guarantee the right to abortion until the viability of the fetus.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
