### Melania Trump Advocates for Abortion Rights, Diverging from Former President

In a recent interview and upcoming memoir, former first lady Melania Trump has publicly asserted her stance on abortion rights, a position that starkly contrasts with that of her husband, former President Donald Trump. Speaking with Fox News' Maria Bartiromo, Melania emphasized her belief in individual freedom and the right for women to make decisions about their own bodies without governmental interference.

"[Donald Trump] knew my position and my beliefs since the day we met. And I believe in individual freedom. I want to decide what I want to do with my body. I think I don't want government in my personal business," Melania expressed in the pretaped interview aired on Sunday. Her comments come just days after The Guardian released excerpts from her book, "Melania," where she stresses the importance of women having autonomy over their reproductive choices.

"Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body? A woman's fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes," she wrote in her memoir.

This stance was further reiterated in a promotional video for her book released last week, where Melania Trump touched on the concept of "individual freedom" and questioned what "my body, my choice" truly means. She described this principle as an essential right all women possess from birth, leaving no room for compromise.

With the midterm elections looming next month, Melania speaks out at a critical time when the topic of abortion is especially contentious. The former first lady downplayed the timing of her disclosures, stating, "That book was written months before, and it was in print months before. So that was my belief, and it is my belief, and I wanted to put it in the book because I want to be authentic."

When asked whether she was concerned that her views might affect public opinion of her husband, she responded confidently, "I don't worry. Everybody needs to decide what they want to do."

Despite their differing views on this polarizing topic, Melania emphasized that her husband respects her beliefs. "He lets me be who I am, and he lets me believe what I believe. He lets me be my own person. And he does respect that, and I respect that as I let him be his own person," she noted, echoing Donald Trump's recent comments emphasizing the importance of staying true to one's heart.

Interestingly, former President Trump has had an evolving stance on abortion. Earlier this week on Truth Social, he declared that he would veto an abortion ban if it crossed his desk as president. This statement comes after his prior celebration of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and previous advocacy for restrictive abortion limits.

As the nation watches the political landscape unfold, Melania Trump's firm stance on abortion rights sheds light on a complex and personal issue that bridges both personal belief and public policy within one of America's most prominent couples.