Melania Trump spells out pro-abortion views in memoir

The former first lady’s memoir Melania hit bookstore shelves on Tuesday. In the book, she wrote that her opinions sometimes differ from those of former President Donald Trump. In another passage, she equated abortion with a woman’s power over her body and freedom. She initially promoted the book on social media in a video last week.

Did she detail her views in the book? She also outlined circumstances in which aborting an unborn baby was legitimate, in her mind. Such cases could include rape, severe medical conditions placing the mother’s life at stake, or a genetic birth defect, Melania Trump wrote.

She did not detail cases in which she thought abortion would be improper. She seemed to espouse requiring parental consent for juveniles seeking abortions—while adding it wasn’t always feasible.

What’s the political backdrop for this? The video came as her husband, former President Donald Trump, and his vice presidential running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, have each signaled softer stances when it comes to protecting unborn babies.

Dig deeper: Read Leah Savas’ report in Vitals about how pro-life voters are responding to Trump’s softer abortion stance.