Melania Trump frustrates the pro-life movement with her support for abortion

Washington, DC Newsroom, October 4, 2024 / 5:15 p.m

Former first lady Melania Trump has drawn criticism from the pro-life movement after she expressed her views on abortion in her upcoming memoir and in a video message on X.

In her self-titled memoir, “Melania,” due out Oct. 8, a month before Election Day, the former first lady writes about her life, her family, her time in the White House and briefly about her support of abortion justice. Some excerpts from the book were published by The Guardian on Wednesday evening.

“It is imperative to ensure that women have the autonomy to decide their preference for children based on their own beliefs, free from any intervention or pressure from the government,” wrote Melania Trump, America’s second Catholic first lady History, in the newspaper autobiographical book.

“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to decide what she does with her own body?” Melania Trump added. “A woman’s fundamental right to individual freedom and her own life gives her the power to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.”

“Restricting a woman’s right to decide whether to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body,” she wrote. “I have carried this belief with me throughout my adult life.”

On Thursday, Melania Trump doubled down on that position a video posted on Xwho promoted the memoir.

“Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this fundamental right that all women have from birth: individual freedom,” she said. “What does 'my body, my choice' really mean?”

Former President Donald Trump, who is facing Vice President Kamala Harris and seeking a second consecutive term in the White House, responded to his wife's comments without supporting or disavowing them.

“We talked about it and I said, 'You have to write what you believe – I'm not going to tell you what to do,'” Donald Trump told Fox News reporter Bill Melugin.

“I said, 'You have to stay with your heart,'” Donald Trump added. “That's what I told everyone: 'You have to go with your heart.' There are some people who are very, very right-wing on this issue, so without exception. And then there are other people who see it a little differently.”

The pro-life movement reacts to Melania Trump

Many leaders in the pro-life movement have expressed frustration with Melania Trump's abortion comments. Some pro-life advocates are still focused on securing a victory for Donald Trump over Harris, while others expressed dismay at the campaign's departure from pro-life values.

Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said in a statement to CNA that the organization's top priority is “defeating the push by Kamala Harris and the Democrats to mandate unlimited, on-demand abortion nationwide, which is financed by every taxpayer.”

However, Dannenfelser continued to criticize Melania Trump's comments, saying, “Women with unplanned pregnancies are crying out for more resources, not more abortions.”

“We must have compassion for them and the babies in the womb who suffer brutal abortions,” she added. “Tens of thousands of abortions are performed on children every year, only occurring once they experience unbearable pain.”

Kristan Hawkins, the president of Students for Life Action, told CNA that “the bottom line is that the moment a woman is pregnant, it's not just about her body,” adding, “Two or maybe more people are there.”

(Story continues below)

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

“Melania Trump had the chance to inspire with her book, but instead chose to push a broken feminism that puts women at odds with their own bodies,” Hawkins continued. “I won’t be buying a copy of the book.”

Some pro-life activists have voiced harsher criticism of Donald Trump's campaign following Melania Trump's comments.

Live Action President Lila Rose claimed in a post on X that Melania Trump and Harris “have functionally the exact same position on abortion.” In late August, Rose suggested she might not vote for Donald Trump because his campaign wasn't pro-life enough.

Robert P. George, a law professor at Princeton University and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said in a Facebook post shared with CNA that he believes Melania Trump's abortion comments were triggered by Donald Trump's campaign.

“The campaign sent her to signal to abortion advocates that the 'right to abortion' would be fully protected in a second Trump administration,” George said. “Their message is that after throwing pro-life Americans under the bus, Donald will keep us under the bus.”

“Her record is characterized by saying little or nothing on political issues,” he continued. “Now she is suddenly publishing videos in which she passionately argues that protecting abortion, including late-term abortion, must be a top priority. Things like this don’t just happen.”

George told CNA that in his opinion Harris is “even worse on abortion” and is “horrifically terrible” on the issue.

Where the candidates stand on the issue of abortion

Donald Trump appointed three of the six Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade, which allowed states to restrict abortions and pass pro-life laws. In his 2024 campaign, the former president has sought to moderate the Republican Party's approach to abortion and has faced the difficult task of maintaining support from the pro-life voting bloc without alienating independents and moderates.

Earlier this week, he said in a post on He claimed that Democrats support the “radical position of late-term abortion… in the seventh, eighth or ninth month.” [of pregnancy].”

Harris supports a federal law that would legalize abortion nationwide – at least until the point of feasibility, which occurs around the 23rd or 24th week of pregnancy. She has not said whether she supports restrictions on late-term abortions.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris' running mate, signed a bill that further solidifies the state's abortion laws, allowing abortions during the entire pregnancy, including the ninth month, for any reason. He signed another bill that limited legal protections for babies born alive after a failed abortion attempt.