### Melania Trump Voices Support for Abortion Rights, Diverging from Husband’s Stance

In a significant deviation from her husband’s political platform, Melania Trump expressed her support for abortion rights Thursday, ahead of her upcoming memoir. The revelation marks a stark contrast to the stance of her husband, Donald Trump, who is the Republican presidential nominee and has taken a more conservative approach on this polarizing issue.

In a video shared on her social media account, the former first lady emphasized the importance of "individual freedoms" for women to make choices concerning their bodies. This position is not only at odds with the broader Republican Party but also highlights the inconsistency in Donald Trump's messaging on abortion, especially as he balances the anti-abortion sentiments of his base against the majority of Americans who support abortion rights.

“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard,” Melania Trump stated in the video. “Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom. What does 'my body, my choice' really mean?”

The video corroborates excerpts from her memoir published by The Guardian, which reveal her firm belief that decisions regarding pregnancy should be made by a woman and her doctor, free from governmental interference. "Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?" she wrote in her memoir. Melania Trump also noted that she has held this belief throughout her adult life.

This proclamation presents a glaring contrast to Donald Trump's record and the GOP’s anti-abortion platform. Trump has frequently boasted about appointing Supreme Court justices who played pivotal roles in overturning Roe v. Wade, a landmark case that had previously protected the constitutional right to abortion. The reaction from various quarters has been swift and pointed.

The national anti-abortion group, SBA Pro-Life America, criticized Melania Trump’s stance, particularly her views on late-term abortions. Nonetheless, the group maintained that their predominant focus is opposing Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the organization's president, stated, “Women with unplanned pregnancies are crying out for more resources, not more abortions.”

Meanwhile, the campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement underscoring Donald Trump’s involvement in the reversal of Roe v. Wade. Harris’ campaign spokesperson, Sarafina Chitika, emphasized that Trump’s policies have placed numerous American women under restrictive abortion bans, impacting their health and freedom.

Despite Donald Trump’s recent assertion that he would veto a federal abortion ban, abortion rights advocates remain skeptical of his commitment to preserving reproductive rights. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, remarked that Melania Trump’s memoir appears to be a strategic move aimed at voters during a critical time.

Melania Trump’s memoir also argues for the necessity of late-term abortions under circumstances involving severe fetal abnormalities or risks to the mother’s life. These views stand in direct opposition to her husband’s frequent promotion of misinformation regarding late-term abortions.

Mary Ruth Ziegler, a law professor specializing in reproductive rights at the University of California Davis, noted that it is unclear whether Melania Trump’s memoir release is a calculated effort to assist Donald Trump’s campaign. Historically, first ladies, including Betty Ford, have often shown more support for abortion rights compared to their husbands.

At a rally in New York in September, Donald Trump promoted his wife’s forthcoming book, urging supporters to purchase it. However, it remains uncertain whether he has delved into the book's contents that reveal such a divergence in their views.