Former First Lady Melania Trump revealed Sunday that husband Donald let me be who I am when she wrote about her pro-abortion stance in her new memoir.
Donald Trump has compared himself to Ronald Reagan on the issue, saying he believes in exceptions in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother, often running afoul of evangelicals.
In the book, she writes that it is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference on having children.
Maria Bartiromo asked her: Had you spoken to President Trump about that before you wrote that in the book
Yes, he knew my position and my beliefs since the day we met, Melania replied. And I believe in individual freedom. I want to decide what I want to do with my body. I think I dont want government in my personal business. I think its very important.
Former First Lady Melania Trump revealed Sunday that husband Donald let me be who I am when she wrote about her pro-abortion stance in her new memoir
Donald Trump has compared himself to Ronald Reagan on the issue, saying he believes in exceptions in cases of rape, incest and to save the life of the mother, often running afoul of evangelicals
She told Fox News that Donald knew that the screed would play a part in her memoir in advance.
He knew my beliefs, as I said, so he knew it would be in the book. He let me be who I am. And he let me believe what I believe. He let me be my own person, and he respects that.
She said that while she feels strongly about the issue, she can live with her husbands disagreement.
And I respect that as I let him be his own person. He has different beliefs, and he will do what he believes. He will be elected official, she said.
Melanias abortion stances were revealed earlier this week when the press obtained an early copy of the book.
Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A womans fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes, she writes.
Restricting a womans right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body, she says. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life.
This eyebrow-raising admission comes just one month before her husband battles it out in the presidential election with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, with abortion rights set to be one of the most decisive issues among voters.
This eyebrow-raising admission comes just one month before her husband battles it out in the presidential election with Democratic nominee Kamala Harris, with abortion rights set to be one of the most decisive issues among voters
Melania told Fox News that Donald knew that the screed would play a part in her memoir in advance
Harris has framed herself as the pro-choice candidate, while Trump has struggled to find a clear position on the issue.
Certainly, he has been happy to take credit for helping to pave the way for the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that federally gave women a right to an abortion.
As president, Trump appointed three of the conservative justices who voted in 2022 to overturn Roe.
He has said he has no regrets over the appointments.
While the overturning has been cheered by the anti-abortion wing of the Republican Party, the former president has more recently realized that the GOP has found itself imperiled over the issue.
Since the 2022 ruling, Democrats have had a succession of election wins by campaigning on abortion. It is thought that Republicans underperformed during the 2022 midterms becuase of it.
In August, Trump exclusively told DailyMail.com that he might vote to end Floridas draconian six-week abortion ban when it comes up in a referendum later this year.
Days later, after irritating the anti-abortion wing of his party, he said he wouldnt vote to overturn the six-week limit.
Former first lady Melania Trump is out with a memoir on Tuesday, in which she talks about keeping private her political differences with her husband, former President Donald Trump, she then goes on to say she supports abortion rights
On Tuesday this week, Trump finally said that he would veto a federal abortion ban, having previously avoided giving a clear answer.
In her memoir, Melania writes that occasional political disagreements between me and my husband are part of our relationship, adding that she believes in addressing them privately rather than publicly challenging him.
Later in the book, she explains why she supports abortion.
I have always believed it is critical for people to take care of themselves first, she says. Its a very straightforward concept; in fact, we are all born with a set of fundamental rights, including the right to enjoy our lives.
We are all entitled to maintain a gratifying and dignified existence. This common-sense approach applies to a womans natural right to make decisions about her own body and health.
Elsewhere in the Fox interview Sunday, Melania said it was still hard to trust the Secret Service to protect her husband after former President Donald Trump was shot by a would-be assassin in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13.
The former first lady said she and her husband had a great team on the ground protecting them, but called into question the leaders of the agency entrusted with their security.
Its hard to say that you trust right, who you really trust, she said. You want to but its always a question mark.
Melania Trump said she hoped recent changes of leadership at the top of the agency would improve their level of protection.