In an upcoming memoir,former first lady Melania Trump has expressed support for abortion rights, as reported by The Guardian, in remarks that appear to diverge from that of her husband, former United States president Donald Trump and his position on the issue.
With abortion emerging as a pivotal topic in the November 5 presidential election in the US, polls indicate that Trump's Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, maintains a significant lead over him on this matter, AFP reported.
In her memoir, Melania, the 54-year-old former fashion model, advocated for the autonomy of US states to determine their own regulations on abortion, a stance that may not align with her 78-year-old husband's views.
She wrote that it is "imperative to guarantee that women have autonomy in deciding their preference of having children, based on their own convictions, free from any intervention or pressure from the government," according to The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Trump has frequently bragged on the campaign trail that his three Supreme Court picks paved the way for the 2022 overturning of the national right to abortion.
At least 20 states have since brought in full or partial restrictions, with Georgia banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
"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," Melania reportedly wrote.
"Restricting a woman's right to choose whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have carried this belief with me throughout my entire adult life," she added, according to The Guardian, which said it had accessed a copy of the memoir ahead of its publication next Tuesday.