Van Jones: Melania Trump breaking with GOP on abortion 'bizarre'

CNN political commentator Van Jones in an interview Thursday called a video from former first lady Melania Trump in which she appears to take a stance in favor of abortion rights "bizarre."

"This is bizarre. I don't think we've ever seen in the history of American politics a former first lady or the spouse of the candidate come out with a book and a video saying 'I don't agree with my husband's party on a key issue,'" Jones said in the interview.

"This is either one of two things: This is a big break with her husband ... or it is 27-dimensional chess," Jones said, adding that maybe this is a ploy to "soften Trump up" or to make "suburban housewives and women voters change their position."

In the video, the former first lady said there is "no room for compromise" when it comes to this "essential right" for women.

“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to these essential rights that all women possess from birth. Individual freedom. What does ‘my body, my choice’ really mean?” she said in a video posted to the social platform X.

According to excerpts obtained by The Guardian, in her book Trump reportedly said it is "imperative" that "women have autonomy" in deciding whether they choose to have children or not.

“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,” The Guardian reported from the former first lady's book.

Earlier this week, former President Trump said he would veto a federal abortion ban if it came across his desk. He argued states should decide their own abortion laws, with minimal federal intervention, though he says his own preference is for abortion exceptions for rape, incest or when the mother’s life is in jeopardy.

Abortion has been a focal point of this election cycle, with this presidential election being the first since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

Recent polling from KFF showed that most voters said they think November’s presidential election will have a “major” impact on abortion access, though more people said they care about the economy and inflation than abortion or any other individual health issue. 

Sixty-one percent of surveyed voters said the outcome of this year’s presidential election will have a major impact on access to abortion in this country — up 10 points from a similar poll in March, according to the data.