**Melania Trump Diverges from Husband with Strong Pro-Choice Stance in New Book**

Melania Trump has taken a notable stance on abortion rights that differs from the public position of her husband, former President Donald Trump. In a promotional video for her upcoming book, the former first lady emphasized the importance of safeguarding women's "individual freedom," which she described as a fundamental right.

"Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right all women possess from birth. Individual freedom," Melania Trump declared in the video. She further posed a rhetorical question, "What does 'My body, my choice' really mean?"

Melania Trump's book, set to be published on Tuesday, dives deeper into her beliefs on the necessity of keeping abortion legal. The Guardian, which obtained an early copy, reports that she argues strongly for a woman's right to make decisions regarding her own body. "Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?" she wrote. "A woman's fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes."

With Election Day approaching in just a month, Melania Trump’s public support for abortion rights reintroduces a contentious issue into the political discourse. Republicans have generally aimed to steer the conversation towards topics like the economy and immigration under President Joe Biden's administration. The former president, while critical of overly restrictive state abortion laws, believes that states should be free to set their own regulations—a stance that has led some states to enact complete abortion bans following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision.

In recent developments, Trump has mostly avoided taking a firm stance on Florida's upcoming referendum, which seeks to extend abortion access beyond the current six-week limit. When he finally announced his opposition to the measure, it pleased anti-abortion advocates. Nonetheless, Trump has displayed discomfort around the topic, refraining from definitive statements on federal restrictions until announcing via Truth Social during the recent vice presidential debate that he would veto a national ban.

Kamala Harris’ campaign spokesperson, Sarafina Chitika, highlighted the contrast between Melania’s stance and her husband's policies. "Sadly for the women across America, Mrs. Trump's husband firmly disagrees with her and is the reason that more than one in three American women live under a Trump Abortion Ban that threatens their health, their freedom, and their lives," Chitika remarked. She warned that if Trump wins, he would impose a nationwide abortion ban, punish women, and restrict access to reproductive healthcare.

In response, Trump's campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt accused the Harris campaign of misinformation. "President Trump has been unequivocally clear: he will NOT sign a federal abortion ban when he is re-elected," Leavitt stated. "He strongly believes abortion is an issue that must be decided at the state level." The campaign did not comment on Melania Trump’s pro-choice viewpoint.

The abortion debate remains a challenging issue for Republicans, especially since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. In states where the issue has been put to a vote, advocates for abortion rights have consistently triumphed, even in traditionally conservative regions.

Additionally, Melania Trump’s book discusses her advocacy against the policy of separating families at the southern border during her husband's administration. She recounted urging the former president to end the policy, citing the unacceptable trauma it caused families. "As a mother myself, I stressed: 'The government should not be taking children away from their parents.' I communicated with great clarity… 'This has to stop,'" she wrote, noting that the policy was soon changed thereafter.