In a notable deviation from her spouse’s position and the Republican Party’s stance on abortion, former First Lady Melania Trump has expressed her strong endorsement of abortion rights in her newly released autobiography, “Melania.”

She argues in her book that women should have absolute control over their reproductive decisions, asserting, “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.”

She lists several scenarios that she views as legitimate grounds for abortion, including risk to the mother’s health, instances of rape or incest, and cases of severe fetal abnormalities. Melania Trump also defends access to late-term abortions in specific medical situations, pointing out that these procedures are historically uncommon and usually result from severe medical complications.

“Restricting a woman’s right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she notes in the autobiography. 

This viewpoint is dramatically different from that of her husband, former President Donald Trump, a vocal supporter of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and an advocate for tighter abortion regulations. He has faced criticism from social conservatives for omitting anti-abortion language from the Republican platform during his 2024 presidential campaign.

In an unexpected show of support, Donald Trump responded to her views by saying that he told her to “write what you believe” and urged her to “go with your heart.” His reaction suggests he chose not to sway his wife’s opinions despite his own anti-abortion stance.

Despite her endorsement of abortion rights, Melania Trump does support certain limitations, such as requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions. She stresses the importance of providing women with unexpected pregnancies “knowledge, security, and solace.”

These revelations, coming just weeks before a significant election, could potentially alter the political landscape, especially as Republicans have been trying to avoid in-depth discussions of abortion rights in their campaigns.