Melania Says Her Husband ‘Respects’ Her Pro-Choice Views: ‘He Let Me Be Who I Am’
Former First Lady Melania Trump revealed that her husband, former President Donald Trump, has been aware of her views on abortion rights “since the day we met.”
In her upcoming memoir, Melania, the former first lady emphasizes her strong belief in women’s autonomy over their bodies, a stance that differs significantly from the Republican presidential nominee’s position on abortion.
Melania, set to be released on October 8, just four weeks before Election Day, delves into her personal convictions, including her views on reproductive rights.
In an interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo, Melania Trump explained that her book highlights the importance of ensuring women have the freedom to choose whether or not to have children, a sentiment she also echoed on social media.
“These opinions were written months ago,” Melania Trump clarified during the interview, stressing that they were not intended to stir controversy ahead of the election.
Here is a portion of the exchange, as transcribed via Grabien:
BARTIROMO: "Melania, you also write about abortion in the book. You say that you are staunchly for a woman’s right to choose, and that you are pro-choice. You write, 'It is imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference in having children based on their own convictions, free from intervention or pressure from government.' Did you speak to President Trump about this before including it in your book?"
MELANIA TRUMP: "Yes. He has known my position and my beliefs since the day we met. I believe in individual freedom. I want to make decisions about my own body, and I don’t think the government should be involved in personal matters. That’s very important to me. As I explain in the book, ‘My body, my choice’ is about much more than just a slogan. Timing and restrictions matter. I encourage people to read it because I believe everyone should have the right to individual freedom."
BARTIROMO: "It’s interesting that you chose to include this in the book right before a presidential election."
MELANIA TRUMP: "Well, it wasn’t written in the last week or month."
BARTIROMO: "These are your firmly held beliefs."
MELANIA TRUMP: "Yes, and they’ve been in the book for months. This is what I believe, and I included it because I want to be authentic. I want people to read the book and discover things that haven’t been discussed before. There’s been a lot of misinformation about me, and Melania will provide my truth."
BARTIROMO: "How do you feel Republicans and President Trump have handled the issue?"
MELANIA TRUMP: "He has always known where I stand, and he knew it would be in the book. He respects my beliefs, just as I respect his. We allow each other to be our own person. He holds different views, and he will pursue what he believes if he becomes an elected official again."
BARTIROMO: "Are you concerned that this issue might lead people to say, ‘I can’t vote for this ticket’?"
MELANIA TRUMP: "I’m not worried. Everyone needs to make their own decisions."