“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her body? The fundamental right to individual freedom available to a woman (…) gives her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes,” she wrote in good papers revealed Wednesday by the British daily. Women must be “free from any intervention or pressure from the government,” insists the wife of the Republican candidate.
« Conviction ». “Restricting a woman’s right to choose to terminate an unwanted pregnancy is the same as denying her control over her own body. I have had this conviction throughout my adult life,” she adds, according to the British newspaper, which explains having had access to a copy of her memoirs, the publication of which is scheduled for Tuesday.
In a black and white video broadcast Thursday, Melania Trump, who is in full promotion before the release of the book, is more evasive. “Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I protect, without a doubt. There is no room for compromise in this essential right that women have from birth. What does “My body, my choice” really mean? », she asks, taking up the great slogan of the fight for the right to voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion).
Democratic reaction. The issue of abortion is central in the November 5 duel between Donald Trump and Democratic Vice-President Kamala Harris. The latter’s campaign team also reacted to Melania Trump’s comments. “Unfortunately for women across America, Mrs. Trump’s husband strongly disagrees with her,” Kamala Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said in a statement.
“This is why more than one in three American women are living under Trump’s abortion ban, which threatens their health, their freedom and their lives,” she added. The former president considers that each state must be free to decide for itself possible restrictions concerning abortion.
Supreme Court. Many southern states have banned or severely restricted voluntary terminations of pregnancies since the Supreme Court in June 2022 dynamited case law which protected this right across the country. The Republican candidate has often congratulated himself on having contributed to this decision by appointing three conservative judges to the Supreme Court during his mandate.
While public opinion is mostly in favor of the right to abortion, Donald Trump has nevertheless somewhat adjusted his position on the issue. The Republican candidate is now trying to present himself as a defender of “reproductive rights”, which has led to him being accused by conservatives of having betrayed the anti-abortion movement. Kamala Harris campaigns vigorously in defense of the right to abortion and, according to polls, is considered much more credible than her rival on the subject.
© Agence France-Presse
