Melania Trump, the wife of former United States President Donald Trump, has said there is “no room for compromise” over a woman’s right to have an abortion — a position at stark odds with that of her husband.“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard,” the former first lady said in a video posted on social media on Thursday.
“Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth, individual freedom. What does ‘my body, my choice’ really mean?”
Her comments appear to mark a significant divergence from Donald Trump’s public stance.
The former president has campaigned on his role in overturning Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that previously established a constitutional right to abortion access.
Campaign on abortion restrictions
While the 78-year-old ex-president has frequently changed his stance on abortion over the years, he currently supports leaving the matter up to individual states to decide.
“My view is now that we have abortion where everyone wanted it from a legal standpoint, the states will determine by vote or legislation, or perhaps both,” Trump said in April.
“And whatever they decide must be the law of the land. In this case, the law of the state.”
Trump has also taken credit for appointing three of the Supreme Court judges who overturned Roe v Wade in June 2022. That decision ended more than 50 years of federal abortion protections.
“I did a great service in doing it,” Trump said during the September 10 presidential debate, addressing his role in the court’s decision. “It took courage to do it. And the Supreme Court had great courage in doing it.”
Former first lady’s eponymous memoir Melania is due to be published next week [File:Alex Brandon/A …
