
Former US First Lady Melania Trump strongly supports abortion rights in her memoir to be released Tuesday, according to the Guardian, an unexpected stance on a hot topic for the presidential election, in which her husband Donald Trump is a candidate.
"Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her body? A woman's fundamental right to individual liberty (...) gives her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes," she writes in an op-ed published Wednesday by the British daily.
Women must be "free from any government intervention or pressure," insists the wife of the Republican candidate.
"Restricting a woman's right to choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have held that belief my entire adult life," she added, according to the British newspaper, which explained that it had access to a copy of her memoir, which is scheduled to be published on Tuesday.
In a black-and-white video released on Thursday, Melania Trump, who is in the midst of promoting the book ahead of its release, is more evasive.
Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I protect, without a doubt. There is no room for compromise in this essential right that women have from birth. What does it really mean, 'My body, my choice'?" she asks, using the great slogan of the fight for the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy (IVG).
The issue of abortion is central to the November 5 duel between Donald Trump and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris.
The latter's campaign team has also reacted to Melania Trump's comments. "Unfortunately for women across America, Mrs. Trump's husband does not agree with her at all," said Kamala Harris' campaign spokesperson Sarafina Chitika in a statement.
"That is why more than one in three American women are living under Trump's abortion ban, which threatens their health, their freedom and their lives," she added.
The former president believes that each state should be free to decide for itself whether to restrict abortion.
Many southern states have banned or severely restricted abortions since the Supreme Court overturned a case law that protected the right nationwide in June 2022.
The Republican candidate has often congratulated himself on having contributed to this decision by appointing three conservative justices to the Supreme Court during his term.
While public opinion is overwhelmingly in favor of abortion rights, Donald Trump has nevertheless adjusted his position on the issue somewhat.
The Republican candidate is now trying to present himself as a defender of "reproductive rights," which has led conservatives to accuse him of betraying the anti-abortion movement.
Kamala Harris is campaigning vigorously on the defense of abortion rights and, according to polls, is considered much more credible than her rival on the subject.