A few weeks before the U.S. presidential election, Melania Trump, former First Lady and wife of Republican candidate Donald Trump, has surprised many by expressing her strong support for abortion rights in her memoirs, which are currently available in bookstores. This stance is particularly surprising given that her husband was behind efforts to challenge this right in the United States.
A long-standing belief
Usually discreet about her political views, Melania Trump takes an unexpected stance. “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,” writes the former first lady in her autobiography titled Melania. She specifies that this belief has accompanied her “throughout her entire adult life.”
“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” she continues. “Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body.”
Melania Trump contradicts her husband
Amidst the presidential campaign, Donald Trump’s wife speaks out on a subject where she wasn’t expected, especially given the well-known views of the Republican candidate. The former president believes that each state should be free to decide on any restrictions regarding abortion.
Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, which had protected the right to abortion nationwide, many southern states have banned or severely restricted access to abortion. Donald Trump has often praised his role in this decision, having appointed three conservative judges to the Supreme Court during his term.
When asked about this by Fox News, Donald Trump assured that he had encouraged his wife to speak freely. He also had to slightly adjust his position on the issue. The Republican candidate is now trying to present himself as a defender of “reproductive rights,” a betrayal in the eyes of many of his conservative supporters.
Melania Trump draws criticism from conservatives
Melania Trump’s statements caused a shockwave among abortion opponents. On X (formerly Twitter), reactions were swift. The group SBA Pro-Life said that “what she says is largely simply wrong.” Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, an organization advocating for the “abolition of abortion,” called Melania Trump’s support for abortion “anti-feminist,” adding that it diverges from “the teachings of the Catholic faith.”
The former first lady’s positions are causing confusion within the Republican camp, particularly among conservatives, who are staunchly opposed to abortion. Donald Trump’s wife may be reshuffling the cards in an already uncertain U.S. election.
Abortion rights at the heart of the debate
Abortion rights are a central issue in this presidential campaign. Kamala Harris, a Democrat and strong advocate for abortion rights, is facing off against Donald Trump, who maintains a certain ambiguity in his current stance to retain conservative support without alienating female voters.
The issue of abortion rights is a political minefield. A total ban on abortion is unpopular nationwide, including in many conservative states. The Democratic Party is well aware of this: Kamala Harris has made the defense of reproductive rights a key focus of her campaign.
On November 5, a debate between the two candidates will place the issue of abortion at the forefront of discussions. It will be interesting to see what position Donald Trump will take when facing Kamala Harris, who has the backing of pro-choice advocates.