A month before the election, Melania Trump hints at her support for abortion rights

Former first lady Melania Trump appeared in a video on Thursday

In the 28-second video, Trump says: “Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I protect. 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?” she added.

The Guardian reported on Wednesday that Trump defended abortion rights in her memoir, due to be published on Tuesday.

NBC News has not independently verified the Guardian's report, in which Trump wrote: “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 to individual freedom and her own life gives her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.

“Restricting a woman’s right 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 adult life,” she continued, according to the report.

Asked about his wife's comments about abortion in an interview with Fox News on Thursday, former President Donald Trump said: “We talked about it and I said, 'You have to write what you believe.' I won't tell you what.' “You have to write down what you believe.”

“She’s very popular,” he said. “People love our former first lady, I can tell you that, but I said, 'You have to stick with your heart.' I told everyone: 'You have to go with your heart.'”

When asked to comment on the former first lady's views on abortion, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung referred to Donald Trump's comments in the interview.

The former president has repeatedly highlighted his role in overturning nationwide abortion protections, saying he supported “Roe v. Wade could kill”.

“My view is that now that we have abortion, where everyone wanted it from a legal perspective, the states will decide by vote or legislation or perhaps both, and whatever they decide must be the law of the land,” said him in April. He said this week that he would not sign a measure banning abortion nationwide into law if it reached his desk as president.

Harris campaign spokeswoman Sarafina Chitika said in a statement earlier Thursday that “to the chagrin of women across America, Ms. Trump's husband strongly disagrees.”

Chitika pointed out that Trump's presidency has led to abortion restrictions and bans in many states. Vice President Kamala Harris has made reproductive care and abortion access a centerpiece of her campaign.

The comments from Melania Trump, who has been largely absent from the campaign, sparked criticism from the anti-abortion rights group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life, which said in a post that “much of what she says is simply not accurate. “ .”

The group's president, Marjorie Dannenfelser, reissued the statement, adding: “The women of America are capable of great strength and creativity. They have a natural tendency to speak for those who are powerless. Abortion is not the source of their freedom and liberation.”

The former first lady's new position also sparked backlash from reproductive rights groups, who pointed to Donald Trump's record on abortion.

“This is just the latest example of politicians — or those close to politics — changing their position in rhetoric but not in action,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement Thursday.

“As president, he has made it his mission to ensure that Roe vs. Wade is overturned. Melania stood by him and never once publicly disavowed his actions until weeks before an election in which our boards are on the ballot again and they are losing voters because of this issue.” she continued. “Read between the lines.”

Mini Timmaraju, the president of Reproductive Freedom for All, told NBC News that Melania Trump's apparent endorsement of abortion rights upset her because her statements could confuse voters who are not fully informed about the abortion rights fight.

“If the Trump campaign were actually being strategic, I would suspect that this could actually help confuse under-informed voters and perhaps give soft Republican women who are conflicted about abortion permission to hold their noses and for.” to vote for Trump,” she said. “Trump’s record is very clear. He overturned Roe. The contrast with Vice President Harris is clear. She has been an advocate for reproductive freedom throughout her career.