(Washington, United States) Former first lady Melania Trump strongly supports the right to abortion in her memoir to be released Tuesday, contrasting with her husband Donald Trump on this key issue in the US presidential election, according to the Guardian.
“It is imperative to guarantee women the autonomy to decide their preference regarding having children, based on their personal convictions,” writes Mme Trump in good spirits revealed Wednesday by the British daily.
Women must be “free from any intervention or pressure from the government,” insists the wife of the Republican candidate.
His opinion, as reported by the Guardian, diverges from that of Donald Trump, who considers that each state must be free to decide for itself possible restrictions on abortion.
The question of the right to abortion is central in the November 5 duel between the Republican and Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris, who continues to denounce his about-faces.
“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her body? The fundamental right to individual freedom enjoyed by a woman […] gives her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes,” writes Melania Trump in her book, according to the Guardian.
“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 had this conviction throughout my adult life,” she adds, according to the British newspaper, which explains having had access to a copy of her memoirs, the publication of which is scheduled for Tuesday.
Donald Trump boasted of having, through his appointment of three conservative judges to the United States Supreme Court during his mandate, led to the cancellation in June 2022 of the federal guarantee of the right to abortion.
Putting an end to half a century of jurisprudence, the Supreme Court gave states full latitude to legislate in this area. At least 20 of them have since put in place partial or total restrictions on voluntary termination of pregnancy.
Faced with the support of a majority of public opinion for the right to abortion, Donald Trump has however resolved to adjust his position on the issue.
The Republican candidate is now trying to present himself as a defender of “reproductive rights”, which in return has earned him the chance to be accused by conservatives of having betrayed the anti-abortion movement.